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

“The dishwashing scene,” he said, with a tiny quaver in his voice, and that was it.

From New York Times ● Mar. 17, 2022

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

My voice was a little too loud and there was a distinct quaver in it, so I tried again.

From "Jacob Have I Loved" by Katherine Paterson

The music is an arena-country crescendo, from acoustic-guitar strum to full-band impact topped by pedal-steel guitar, along with gospel-organ underpinnings and country quavers in Beyoncé’s vocal lines.

From New York Times ● Feb. 16, 2024

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

The only time her voice quavers is when she describes her mother’s reaction.

From The Guardian ● Jun. 28, 2018

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

He tried to speak, but his voice quavered.

From New York Times ● Jul. 20, 2021

When it came time for him to address the gathering at his uncle’s grave, Franken’s voice quavered as he took in, for the first time, the cross that was about to be removed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 13, 2020

She took her courage into her two hands and quavered boldly, “I’m...fifteen.”

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith

The voice that sang it was profound and strong, but quavering and not quite in tune: an old oak tree with a strong trunk but with branches starting to kink and leaves to wither.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2025

“Keep up the fight,” he told the audience in a quavering voice.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 5, 2024

“I didn’t shoot my wife or my son. Anytime. Ever,” he declared in a long, quavering Southern drawl.

From Washington Times ● Feb. 27, 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

“Oooooooooooooh,” he moaned again, and this time the whole room rippled at his quavering, drawn-out cry.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller