shake
verb (used without object)
to move or sway with short, quick, irregular vibratory movements.
was shaking
-
past progressiveof shake.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Pugh seemed frozen, terrified and not quite clear-headed. It was not the usual Pugh, who was direct, thoughtful and expressive. She was shaking and clearly traumatized.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
Former police dog handler Chris Bushnell, who was at the scene of PC Harper's death, said he was "shaking" when he heard that two of the officer's killers might be released early from prison.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
The race was shaking out to be mighty close, and as the first initial votes were tallied, Pratt was leading Raman for the second spot behind Bass, but by Sunday Raman began to pull ahead.
From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2026
"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
In the kitchen I was shaking so hard that at first I could not continue the cooking; I could not think clearly.
From "Z for Zachariah" by Robert C. O’Brien
