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Glite Dictionary
📶 Small rapid changes 🤲 To shake quickly
to jitter

to jitter

2 4.6
To shake or move quickly because you are nervous
  • verb
  • /ˈdʒɪtər/
translation icon : temblar
  • She jittered nervously in her seat before giving the presentation.
  • her leg jittered
  • jittered in my hands
  • eyes jittered

Examples

  • The entity jittered about in a meaningless, chaotic dance.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • A flash of lightning outside his window sends harsh barred shadows jittering across the cell.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Jack bit down hard on his lower lip to stop the shaking and jittering inside him.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • On little tables around the floor, glasses jittered to the pedestrian beat of "Life in the Fast Lane."

    Fiction book (1999)

  • Her legs look like naked chicken skin, and her knees are jittering.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • Jam sits across from her, one leg jittering anxiously.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • I sat back, crossed my legs, and then I noticed I was jittering with nervousness.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • Trevor hears someone coming toward the bedroom and can see the flashlight beam jittering as its bearer approaches.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • As the music played, the decorations jittered along with the beat.

  • He felt his leg jittering uncontrollably after drinking too much coffee.

Synonyms

to tremble
vsto jitter
164 2.5

To shake slightly without control because of fear, cold, or worry

is quicker and more jerky, showing sudden nervous motion
to quiver
vsto jitter
47 4.5

To shake in small, quick movements because of fear, cold, or excitement

moves more nervously and with jerky sudden motions
to wobble
vsto jitter
40 3.8

To move or shake unsteadily from side to side

is faster and more nervous, not only balance related motion
to waver
vsto jitter
12 4.8

To move or shake in a slight, unsteady way

is quicker and more jerky compared with slower swaying instability
to skitter
vsto jitter
9 6.1

To move lightly and quickly, often in short quick steps like a leaf or small animal

describes shaking in place rather than quick gliding movement
to shimmy
vsto jitter
1 7.4

To shake slightly with quick movements

is more jerky and nervous rather than smooth or rhythmic
to wabble
vsto jitter
8.9

To move unsteadily from side to side

is quicker and more jerky instead of slow irregular shaking

How Shaky

to convulse
8 7.8
shake
55 1.8
to jitter
2 4.6
tremble
23 2.7
to wobble
40 3.8

Surface Forms

jitter infinitive
jittered past
jittered past participle
jittering present participle
jitters third person singular

Etymology

Jitter as a verb comes from the same source as jitters, a word for a 'nervous shaking', and the dance jitterbug gives the image of quick, jerky movement. So to jitter is to move or shake with quick, nervous little 'jerks'.