quaver

American  

[kwey-ver] / ˈkweɪ vər /

verb (used without object)

quavers, present (3rd person singular) quavered, past participle, past quavering present participle

1. to shake tremulously; quiver or tremble.

   He stood there quavering with fear.

2. to sound, speak, or sing tremulously.

   Her voice quavered a moment and then she regained control.

3. to perform trills in singing or on a musical instrument.

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verb (used with object)

quavers, present (3rd person singular) quavered, past participle, past quavering present participle

1. to utter, say, or sing with a quavering or tremulous voice.

noun

1. a quavering or tremulous shake, especially in the voice.

2. a quavering tone or utterance.

3. Music (chiefly British). an eighth note.

quaver British  

/ ˈkweɪvə /

verb

1. to say or sing (something) with a trembling voice

2. (intr) (esp of the voice) to quiver, tremble, or shake

3. rare (intr) to sing or play quavers or ornamental trills

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noun

1. Usual US and Canadian name: eighth note.  music a note having the time value of an eighth of a semibreve

2. a tremulous sound or note

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• quaverer
  noun
• quavering
  adjective
• quaverous
  adjective
• quavery
  adjective
• unquavering
  adjective
• quaveringly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• quavering
  present
• quavered
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• quaver
  simple
• quavers
  simple
• have quavered
  perfect
• has quavered
  perfect
• am quavering
  progressive
• are quavering
  progressive
• is quavering
  progressive
• have been quavering
  perfect progressive
• has been quavering
  perfect progressive

Past

• quavered
  simple
• had quavered
  perfect
• was quavering
  progressive
• were quavering
  progressive
• had been quavering
  perfect progressive

Future

• will quaver
  simple
• will have quavered
  perfect
• will be quavering
  progressive
• will have been quavering
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of quaver

1400–50; late Middle English quaveren (v.), blend of quake and waver ¹

Explanation

A quaver is a trembling or shaking sound, especially in a person's voice. When you give your first speech in front of a crowd, don't be surprised to hear a quaver in your voice. The nervous or emotional tremor in a person's speaking voice is one kind of quaver. It's also a primarily British term for an eighth note in music. To quaver can mean both to speak in a trembling voice, or to sing in a similar way, with a little warble or trill. The fifteenth century meaning of quaver is "to tremble or vibrate," and it's related to the earlier cwavien, "to shake," from the Low German word quabbeln, "tremble."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

quaver quavers quavered quavering

There was a quaver in his voice, which defined the depth of his emotion.

From Scientific American ● Dec. 23, 2021

It’s where Alana first says “You’re sweet, Gary,” a line Haim delivers with a lovely little quaver, as if a mask were falling away.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 15, 2021

Tears sprang to my eyes again, lending a quaver to my voice.

From Slate ● Aug. 24, 2019

“For more than 12 years I entrusted Stew with my words and my goals and my reputation and he’s never let me down,” McConnell said as his voice began to quaver.

From Fox News ● Mar. 14, 2019

Joaquin asked, and Maya knew him well enough by now to hear the quaver there.

From "Far from the Tree" by Robin Benway

The vivid pictures in “Cultivating Imperfection,” the Northern Virginia painter’s Art League show, might be pulsing with sound, light or tectonic quavers.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 24, 2020

“There are things out there,” a character quavers.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 9, 2020

Picture the moment, as he quavers, “The sun has gone to bed and so must I,” before curling up in mock sleep and being borne offstage by Ivanka.

From The Guardian ● Jan. 5, 2017

In one particularly musical moment, he expresses planetary motions in musical notation — the orbits of Mercury, Venus and their neighbours spun out into crotchets and quavers.

From Nature ● Mar. 17, 2015

The light filtering in from above shifts again, and the figure quavers as though she were watching through a heat haze, though Mr. A. H— remains comparatively crisp and clear.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

Dressed in a traditional feathered cloak, her voice quavered as she thrust a photo of her mother at the committee.

From BBC ● Dec. 10, 2023

Talking about her father’s caregivers, Robin’s voice quavered.

From Washington Times ● Dec. 12, 2021

His distinctive voice quavered to traditional Persian music on state radio for years before supporting protesters following Iran’s contested 2009 election.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 7, 2020

Palm Springs Police Chief Bryan Reyes’ voice quavered at a news conference hours later as he described watching Zerebny’s husband, a Riverside County sheriff's deputy, say goodbye to his wife. 

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2016

Fadi quavered as the confusion on his father’s face turned to anger.

From "Shooting Kabul" by N. H. Senzai

What only seems familiar: Powering out of a slow corner with the pedal pinned, the car pulling its guts out, stretching for the redline, revs quavering at the upshifts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 28, 2026

HAILEY, Idaho — Paul Rytting listened as a woman, voice quavering, told him her story.

From Washington Times ● Dec. 12, 2023

“She brightened my life with her happiness and bravery. I will keep preserving her spirit,” Hsiao said in a quavering voice.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 31, 2023

And Mark Lester as Oliver Twist is a picture of cherubic and attractive innocence, exuding likability with every quavering line.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 25, 2023

“What do you want with him?” said Ernie in a quavering voice.

From "Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets" by J. K. Rowling