tremble
Americanverb (used without object)
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trembles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
trembled,
past participle, past
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trembling
present participle
noun
-
trembles
plural
-
the act of trembling.
-
a state or fit of trembling.
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(used with a singular verb) trembles,
-
Pathology. milk sickness.
-
Veterinary Pathology. a toxic condition of cattle and sheep caused by the eating of white snakeroot and characterized by muscular tremors.
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verb
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to vibrate with short slight movements; quiver
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to shake involuntarily, as with cold or fear; shiver
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to experience fear or anxiety
noun
Synonym Usage
See shake.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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tremblesimple
-
tremblessimple
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have trembledperfect
-
has trembledperfect
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am tremblingprogressive
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are tremblingprogressive
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is tremblingprogressive
-
have been tremblingperfect progressive
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has been tremblingperfect progressive
Past
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trembledsimple
-
had trembledperfect
-
was tremblingprogressive
-
were tremblingprogressive
-
had been tremblingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of tremble
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English trem(b)len (verb), from Old French trembler, from Vulgar Latin *tremulāre, derivative of Latin tremulus tremulous
Explanation
To tremble is to quiver or shake without meaning to. Your hands probably tremble when you're nervous. Trembling is a movement, but it's not one that anyone intends to make. Someone who is extremely scared or cold might tremble all over. Older people tend to tremble more often than younger people, sometimes because of serious disorders like Parkinson's disease. The root word of tremble is the Latin tremulus, "trembling or tremulous." Certain honey bees perform a wiggly, shivering movement called a "tremble dance," which scientists believe inspires speedier nectar collection.
Vocabulary lists containing tremble
"The People Could Fly," Vocabulary from the folk tale
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David Bowie (1947-2016) Tribute List
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Excerpt from "The Diary of Anne Frank"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“My hand will not tremble when it comes to chasing down and capturing the bandits,” he told supporters at a recent rally in Bogotá, the capital.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 2, 2026
The remark wasn’t likely to make Iranian generals tremble.
From Slate ● May 11, 2026
His mouth doesn’t close, his eyebrows stay raised, his hands tremble.
From Salon ● Apr. 3, 2026
"You rejoice and cry, and you tremble inside from the emotion -- seeing those eyes that are both sad and joyful and filled with tears," she told AFP during a recent prisoner exchange.
From Barron's ● Mar. 18, 2026
I could feel a tremble in my stomach, spiralling outwards through my body.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
"Everyone still trembles at any loud noise," he added.
From Barron's ● Mar. 26, 2026
Their voice trembles as they describe the incident, one they managed to film, hoping that footage might be useful later.
From Slate ● Jan. 16, 2026
Her voice trembles as she sings the new song, "If you hadn't been there / Where would I be? / Without your trust, love, and belief".
From BBC ● Mar. 7, 2025
Her voice trembles with emotion as she sings the lyrics, fueled by the six decades of relationship behind them.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 7, 2025
My bottom lip trembles, and I press my lips together hard.
From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline
One of the most Latino big cities in the country trembled in fear.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
His blood pressure rose and his hand trembled so that he almost let the hemostat fall to the floor.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 11, 2025
As the country’s fourth-largest investment bank, Lehman Brothers, collapsed and its fifth-largest, Bear Sterns, was liquidated in a “fire sale,” the financial system trembled at the brink of collapse.
From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2025
The ground trembled so violently some people thought there was an earthquake.
From BBC ● Nov. 16, 2024
Pong's fingers trembled where they pressed together in prayer.
From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat
The release featured the band’s most popular songs and showcased Surkamp’s high-pitched and trembling, yet powerful, vocals.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
Ali, trembling from the effects of Parkinson’s disease but with strength still evident, held the flaming torch aloft.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026
"I'm trembling with the emotion," said the Belgian afterwards.
From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026
During those strikes, she sat on a chair in the corridor of her Lukyanivka apartment, away from the windows, her hands trembling uncontrollably.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
Pua is blinking back tears and her lower lip is trembling.
From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
