shiver

¹ American  

[shiv-er] / ˈʃɪv ər /

verb (used without object)

1. to shake or tremble with cold, fear, excitement, etc.

2. Nautical.

   1. (of a fore-and-aft sail) to shake when too close to the wind.

   2. (of a sailing vessel) to be headed so close to the wind that the sails shake.

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noun

1. a tremulous motion; a tremble or quiver.

   The thought sent a shiver down her spine.

2. (the) shivers, an attack of shivering or chills.

shiver ² American  

[shiv-er] / ˈʃɪv ər /

verb (used with or without object)

1. to break or split into fragments.

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noun

1. a fragment; splinter.

shiver ¹ British  

/ ˈʃɪvə /

verb

1. to shake or tremble, as from cold or fear

2. 1. (of a sail) to luff; flap or shake

   2. (of a sailing vessel) to sail close enough to the wind to make the sails luff

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noun

1. the act of shivering; a tremulous motion

2. an attack of shivering, esp through fear or illness

shiver ² British  

/ ˈʃɪvə /

verb

1. to break or cause to break into fragments

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noun

1. a splintered piece

Related Words

Shiver, quake, shudder refer to a vibratory muscular movement, a trembling, usually involuntary. We shiver with cold, or a sensation such as that of cold: to shiver in thin clothing on a frosty day; to shiver with pleasant anticipation. We quake especially with fear: to quake with fright. We shudder with horror or abhorrence; the agitation is more powerful and deep-seated than shivering or trembling: to shudder at pictures of a concentration camp.

Other Word Forms

• shiverer noun
• shivering adjective
• shiveringly adverb

Etymology

Origin of shiver¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English noun chivere; later sh-, apparently for the sake of alliteration in phrase chiver and shake

Origin of shiver²

1150–1200; (noun) Middle English schivere fragment; cognate with German Schiefer schist; (v.) Middle English schiveren, derivative of the noun

Explanation

People shiver, or shake and tremble, when they're very cold. You might shiver in the snow if you forget to wear your winter coat. While you are most likely to shiver in the cold, you might also shiver from excitement or even fear. The involuntary shudder our bodies make in chilly weather is a response meant to raise our body temperature to a safe level. Shiver was originally chiveren, from the Old English ceafl, or "jaw." This is thought to be connected to the chattering your teeth do when you shiver.

Example Sentences

"Other insects, like bees and moths, shiver to increase their heat," Stensmyr said.

From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2026

What viewer won’t feel a shiver at the prospect of encountering such a man, or fail to wonder what tales we are capable of spinning to get through?

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 27, 2025

Alistair says the information sent a shiver down his spine.

From BBC • Jul. 12, 2025

There isn’t a shiver of surprise about who gets the chomp, only disappointment that the fatalities are so bloodless — they’re mild even for PG-13.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 30, 2025

Another shiver of panic rattled through her body at the ominous words, and more questions darted through her mind.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

Related Words

• flutter
• quiver
• shudder
• vibrate