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

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.

Example Sentences

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

Her fingers tremble as she smooths out the creases, and in a fumbling, uncertain voice, she begins to read them.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2025

In the Los Feliz-East Hollywood area, one person felt two waves of shaking — an initial wave, followed by an easing of shaking, then walls starting to tremble.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 29, 2024

He held out his hands, making them tremble violently.

From "Rowan of Rin" by Emily Rodda

Related Words

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