tremble

[trem-buhl]

verb (used without object)

trembled, trembling 

1. to shake involuntarily with quick, short movements, as from fear, excitement, weakness, or cold; quake; quiver.

   Synonyms: shudder

2. to be troubled with fear or apprehension.

3. (of things) to be affected with vibratory motion.

   Synonyms: oscillate

4. to be tremulous, as light or sound.

   His voice trembled.

noun

1. the act of trembling.

2. a state or fit of trembling.

3. (used with a singular verb),  trembles,

   1. Pathology.,  milk sickness.

   2. Veterinary Pathology.,  a toxic condition of cattle and sheep caused by the eating of white snakeroot and characterized by muscular tremors.

tremble

/ ˈtrɛmbəl /

verb

1. to vibrate with short slight movements; quiver

2. to shake involuntarily, as with cold or fear; shiver

3. to experience fear or anxiety

noun

1. the act or an instance of trembling

Other Word Forms

• tremblingly adverb
• untrembling adjective
• untremblingly adverb
• trembly adjective
• trembling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tremble¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English trem(b)len (verb), from Old French trembler, from Vulgar Latin *tremulāre, derivative of Latin tremulus tremulous

Word History and Origins

Origin of tremble¹

C14: from Old French trembler , from Medieval Latin tremulāre , from Latin tremulus quivering, from tremere to quake

Synonym Study

See shake.

Example Sentences

A shopper who told me she had felt her house tremble from the force of the blast was still visibly shaken by the experience.

Read more on BBC

For years, rival executives in America had looked north and trembled at the possibilities.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

His voice trembles on the line “Just hold me close, don’t patronize/Don’t patronize me.”

Read more on Salon

"There was a loud noise. All the doors and windows of the classroom began to tremble. Everyone ran outside to check what had happened," a student, who preferred to remain unnamed, said.

Read more on BBC

Do you know how many times I trembled?

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Related Words

• flutter 
• quiver 
• shiver 
• shudder 
• throb 
• wobble