shaking

American  

[shey-king] / ˈʃeɪ kɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that shakes.

2. ague, with or without chill and fever.

3. Nautical. shakings, waste rope, canvas, etc.

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adjective

1. moving or swaying with short, quick, irregular vibratory movements; quivering.

Other Word Forms

• shakingly adverb
• unshaking adjective

Etymology

Origin of shaking

Middle English word dating back to 1175–1225; shake, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

"I miss a peaceful night's sleep," an artist in Tehran told AFP, saying strikes the previous night were "so intense it felt like all of Tehran was shaking".

From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026

This isn’t the only scandal shaking up the nation’s second-largest school district.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

As nearby bees observe, the dancer moves forward while shaking its abdomen, then circles back and repeats the pattern within seconds.

From Science Daily • Mar. 24, 2026

Symptoms can include a racing heartbeat; feeling faint, dizzy or light-headed; feeling very hot or very cold; sweating, trembling or shaking; feeling sick; chest and stomach pain; and struggling to breathe and shaking legs.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026

After a second’s hesitation, JB began shaking his head too.

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix