tremble
verb (used without object)
to shake involuntarily with quick, short movements, as from fear, excitement, weakness, or cold; quake; quiver.
was trembling
-
past progressiveof tremble.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.
Standing in line, I noticed the man in front of me was trembling.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 3, 2026
The victory was worth £142,375 to Redknapp, who was trembling as he spoke to ITV Racing moments after his winner was confirmed.
From BBC ● Dec. 26, 2025
Jason was unable to keep his eyes open and was trembling while waiting for medical attention, according to his family.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 17, 2024
“I was thick-skinned on the outside, but it destroyed me within. … My flesh was trembling and began to throb,” he said.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 27, 2022
With the news now made public, most of the town, including Kalbro’s supply chain manager, was trembling with the bad vibes.
From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx
