tremor

noun

trem·​or ˈtre-mər 

1

a

: a trembling or shaking usually from physical weakness, emotional stress, or disease

b

: nervous excitement

2

: a quivering or vibratory motion

especially : a discrete small movement following or preceding a major seismic event

3

a

: a feeling of uncertainty or insecurity

a tremor of hesitation

b

: a cause of such a feeling

Synonyms

• quake
• earthquake

Examples of tremor in a Sentence

Small tremors were still being felt several days after the earthquake.

I heard a tremor in her voice.

His tremors were caused by the disease.

Recent Examples on the Web

The airburst arrived almost a minute and a half after the tremor. —Charles Pellegrino, Rolling Stone, 6 Aug. 2025

The rare tristate tremor was recorded on April 5, 2024, and felt by approximately 42 million people in the region — an unfamiliar sensation for New Yorkers. —Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2025

The tremor struck just over a mile southwest of Hillsdale, New Jersey, at about 12:11 p.m. ET, and had a depth of about seven miles, according to USGS. —Melina Khan, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025

If the pandemic was an earthquake in travel, the industry is praying this will prove to be only a minor tremor. —Adil Ali, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tremour, from Anglo-French tremor, from Latin, from tremere

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for tremor

• emmer
• condemnor

Kids Definition

tremor

noun

trem·​or ˈtrem-ər 

1

: a trembling or shaking usually caused by weakness or disease

2

: a quivering or vibrating motion

especially : a small movement of the earth before or after an earthquake

Medical Definition

tremor

noun

trem·​or ˈtrem-ər 

: a trembling or shaking usually from physical weakness, emotional stress, or disease

tremors of the hands