quaver

1 of 2

verb

qua·​ver ˈkwā-vər 

quavered; quavering ˈkwā-və-riŋ 

ˈkwāv-riŋ

intransitive verb

1

: tremble

2

: trill

3

: to utter sound in tremulous tones

transitive verb

: to utter quaveringly

quaveringly adverb

quavery

ˈkwā-və-rē 

ˈkwāv-rē

adjective

quaver

2 of 2

noun

1

: eighth note

2

: trill sense 1

3

: a tremulous sound

Synonyms of quaver

Verb

• trill

Examples of quaver in a Sentence

Verb

Her voice quavered during the speech.

He spoke in quavering tones.

Noun

There was a quaver in his voice.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Emma called me, her voice quavering, while more calls rolled in. — Matt Wolf, Vulture, 28 May 2025

That quavering in his 13-year-old daughter’s voice pierces his heart. — Lizz Schumer, People.com, 17 June 2025

Noun

Strings play a unison A that quavers under the pressure of sawing bows. — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025

As Booth introduces more aspects of Kenneth’s past, his voice takes on an affecting quaver. — Vulture, 26 May 2023

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, frequentative of quaven to tremble

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for quaver

• aver
• braver
• craver
• favor
• favour
• flavor
• flavour
• graver
• paver
• raver
• saver
• savor

Kids Definition

quaver

1 of 2 verb

qua·​ver ˈkwā-vər 

quavered; quavering ˈkwāv-(ə-)riŋ 

1

: tremble entry 1 sense 1

2

: to utter sound in trembling unsteady tones

a voice that quavered

3

: to say or sing with a quavering voice

quaveringly

ˈkwāv-(ə-)riŋ-lē

adverb

quavery

ˈkwāv-(ə-)rē 

adjective

quaver

2 of 2 noun

1

: eighth note

2

: a trembling sound