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
Bombardier George Young previously told the hearing he received a phone call from Gunner Beck, who was "trembling, crying and in shock".
From BBC ● Feb. 14, 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 trembling with fear," Hernandez said, recalling how the floodwaters at her house surged above head height as the storm raged.
From Reuters ● Oct. 31, 2023
By the time I had finished, it was my grandmother who was trembling.
From "The Witches" by Roald Dahl
