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to shiver

to shiver

115 1.2
To shake slightly because of cold, fear or excitement
  • verb
  • /ˈʃɪvər/
translation icon : temblar
  • As soon as I stepped outside, I started to shiver from the biting cold air.
  • shiver with cold
  • shiver with fear
  • begin to shiver

Is it worth someone's mum in a pool of tears shivering in the corner of a room because you've murdered her kid?

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Examples

  • When I got out at Twenty-first and Prairie, I was shivering from the desolation of the scene.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • One small girl from the inner city was shivering and holding her arms while glancing upward.

    Academic text (1994)
  • And he started shivering and shaking.

  • "You cold," they say, shivering, as the wind blows through the window.

    Academic text (1994)
  • In the predawn chill, many of the girls shiver as they wait their turn with the soap.

    Academic text (1991)
  • I slumped against the cold door, shivering, my face pressed to the wood.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Drove away from the house faster than I legally should have, shivering the entire time, either from fear or the cold, maybe a little of both.

  • Come on, can't you see he's shivering with cold?

  • "You're safe now, we're home free," Gabe told Jazz, who was shivering in spite of her heavy sweater.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • I can't stop shivering.

Synonyms

to shudder
vsto shiver
85 3.7

To shake suddenly because you feel cold, afraid, or very upset

is a lighter, more controlled tremble rather than a sudden strong reaction
to thrill
vsto shiver
23 2.6

To shiver with sudden excitement or fear

is a gentler trembling that is not always sudden and can come from cold
to shake like a leaf
vsto shiver
  • Informal
3 4.6

To tremble a lot because you are afraid, nervous, or cold

is a milder slight tremble rather than a prolonged intense trembling
to didder
vsto shiver
  • Archaic
9.9

To shake slightly, often because of cold or strong feeling

is a similar slight trembling but from cold, fear, or excitement

Idioms

A sudden feeling of fear or excitement that moves along your back

How Shaky

to shake
916 1.0
to shudder
85 3.7
tremble
23 2.7
to shiver
115 1.2
to quiver
47 4.5

Surface Forms

shiver infinitive
shivered past
shivered past participle
shivering present participle
shivers third person singular

Etymology

Shiver as a verb comes from the same old idea of 'small broken pieces' — imagine your body breaking into many tiny movements. That's why to shiver means to shake slightly and uncontrollably because of cold, fear, or excitement.