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🌎 An earthquake 😨 To shake
to quake

to quake

8 4.2
To shake because of fear, cold or strong movement
  • verb
  • /kweɪk/
translation icon : temblar
  • Although the girl's slim body quaked with cold, her thin pajamas and sheets were soaked in sweat.
  • tremble and quake
  • quaked with fear
  • quake in my boots

I'm so sad all the skeletons are quaking right now.

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Examples

  • Upon reaching the clashing rocks, the exhausted crew quaked with fear, but Phineas's advice rang in their heads.

  • The athlete quaked with excitement as he prepared for the final race.

  • I was breathing only from the lip up, and my legs were beginning to quake.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Her voice still quaked as she spoke.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Her soul quaked in fear.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • And that's when the whole room starts to quake.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • My limbs quaked and shivered, and I retreated into improvisation: "Me?

    Fiction book (1994)

  • The entire chamber quakes violently—eight on the Richter scale.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • On legs that quaked and wobbled, he continued on his way, weaving along the rocky spine of the northward-tending ridge.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • She quaked in fear when she heard the loud thunderclap.

Synonyms

to shake
vsto quake
916 1.0

To move quickly from side to side or up and down

is stronger, meaning more violent and forceful rapid movement
to shiver
vsto quake
115 1.2

To shake slightly because of cold, fear or excitement

is stronger, referring to violent shaking from physical or emotional forces
to quiver
vsto quake
47 4.5

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

is more forceful, describing larger or more violent trembling
to waver
vsto quake
12 4.8

To move or shake in a slight, unsteady way

describes violent rapid movement, while this is milder unsteady swaying
to judder
vsto quake
  • UK
1 8.4

Shake quickly and strongly, often making a loud noise

is broader, applying to violent shaking from many causes not only machinery

Antonyms

to steady
41 3.4

To make yourself or something stop moving

to still
12 4.2

To make quiet or calm

Idioms

to quake in one's boots
  • Informal
8.9

To feel very frightened and shake with fear

Phrasal Verbs

to quake at
1 7.4

To tremble because you are afraid

How Strong

to convulse
8 7.8
to quake
8 4.2
to shake
916 1.0
tremble
23 2.7
to quiver
47 4.5

Surface Forms

quake infinitive
quaked past
quaked past participle
quaking present participle
quakes third person singular

Etymology

Quake comes from an old English word for 'to tremble', and it is like the common word quiver that describes shaking. So to quake is to shake or tremble, for example from fear, cold, or a sudden force.