tremble

American  

[trem-buhl] / ˈtrɛm bəl /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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noun

1. the act or an instance of trembling

Related Words

See shake.

Other Word Forms

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

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

Example Sentences

"My children tremble at every explosion and ask me, 'Where can we go?' And I have no answer."

From Barron's

Her voice trembles with anger as she explains how she found out the news that he had died on the front line in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine in 2023.

From BBC

He trembles in the webbing, even while trying his best to stand still—perhaps his biggest challenge yet since entering Asamando.

From Literature

They wept and trembled; tenderly he kissed the top of her head.

From Literature

Her hand trembled, but her voice remained firm.

From Literature

Related Words

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