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

Softly so as not to drown out the quavering notes, the congregation put words to the melody. — Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 July 2026

His voice has a steady resolve, avoiding the quavering hesitation of his sad-sack forebears. — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 17 Apr. 2026

Noun

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

There was the troubadour John Brannen, who possessed a rootsy sound and a quaver that channeled Roy Orbison’s. — Brad Shoup, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2024

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