Skip to main content
to tremble

to tremble

164 2.5
To shake slightly without control because of fear, cold, or worry
  • verb
  • /ˈtrɛmbəl/
translation icon : temblar
  • The child started to tremble as she walked across the dark, empty hallway.
  • hands tremble
  • voice trembled
  • tremble with fear

It gets myself like, my voice starts to tremble a little bit.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • "You want to talk about the issue?" he said, his voice trembling with indignation.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • He told me what he thought about the Party and I trembled for him.

  • "If I tremble with the cold," he said, "my enemies will say it was from fear.

  • They tremble, too scared to speak.

  • When you're close, I just tremble every time.

  • Suddenly, the boy was struck dumb; he trembled and began to run on his hands and feet.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Well, I think I'm trembling with joy.

  • You are trembling.

  • Why are you trembling?

  • Princess Courtney's voice trembled as she uttered the word she'd held back for so long.

Synonyms

to shiver
vsto tremble
115 1.2

To shake slightly because of cold, fear or excitement

is shaking slightly for reasons like anxiety, excitement, or weakness
to shudder
vsto tremble
85 3.7

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

is a slower, gentler involuntary shaking rather than a sudden violent shake
to waver
vsto tremble
12 4.8

To move or shake in a slight, unsteady way

is specifically a small involuntary shake tied to anxiety or weakness
to shake like a leaf
vsto tremble
  • Informal
3 4.6

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

is milder and describes a slight involuntary shake, not a strong one
to jitter
vsto tremble
2 4.6

To shake or move quickly because you are nervous

is a slow slight involuntary shake, not rapid jerky movement
to quake at
vsto tremble
1 7.4

To tremble because you are afraid

is a slight involuntary shake that can have other causes besides fear
to didder
vsto tremble
  • Archaic
9.9

To shake slightly, often because of cold or strong feeling

is a general slight involuntary shake often from anxiety or weakness

How Much

to convulse
8 7.8
to shudder
85 3.7
shake
55 1.8
to tremble
164 2.5
to quiver
47 4.5

Surface Forms

tremble infinitive
trembled past
trembled past participle
trembling present participle
trembles third person singular

Etymology

The word tremble comes from the old Latin verb tremere, which means 'to shake'. It shares the same root as tremor, so to tremble is to shake a little, often from fear, cold, or excitement.