quake

1 of 2

verb

ˈkwāk 

quaked; quaking

intransitive verb

1

: to shake or vibrate usually from shock or instability

2

: to tremble or shudder usually from cold or fear

quake

2 of 2

noun

: an instance of shaking or trembling (as of the earth or moon)

especially : earthquake

Synonyms

Verb

• agitate
• bucket
• convulse
• jerk
• jiggle
• joggle
• jolt
• jounce
• judder [chiefly British]
• quiver
• shake
• shudder
• vibrate
• wobble
• wabble

Noun

• earthquake
• shake
• temblor
• tremor

Examples of quake in a Sentence

Verb

She was quaking with rage.

The explosion made the whole house quake.

Noun

the quake registered 6.5 on the Richter scale, causing widespread damage

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Even if Gabe Landeskog never skates a shift at the American Airlines Center, Lone Star faithful oughta be quaking in their chaps. —Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 12 Apr. 2025

After the quaking subsides, Annie—left with no phone, money, or car—begins walking across what remains of the city. —The New Yorker, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025

Noun

Footage posted to social media from Istanbul showed people running and screaming in the moments after the biggest quake. —Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025

No one was injured in the quake, which was followed by no fewer than seven aftershocks, and no major damage was reported. —Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English cwacian

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for quake

• ache
• ake
• bake
• brake
• break
• cake
• craik
• crake
• fake
• flake
• hake
• jake

Kids Definition

quake

1 of 2 verb

ˈkwāk 

quaked; quaking

1

: to shake or vibrate usually from shock or lack of stability

2

: to tremble or shudder usually from cold or fear

quake

2 of 2 noun

: a shaking or trembling

especially : earthquake