quiver

1 of 3

noun (1)

quiv·​er ˈkwi-vər 

1

: a case for carrying or holding arrows

2

: the arrows in a quiver

quiver

2 of 3

verb

quivered; quivering ˈkwi-və-riŋ 

ˈkwiv-riŋ

intransitive verb

: to shake or move with a slight trembling motion

quiveringly adverb

quiver

3 of 3

noun (2)

: the act or action of quivering : tremor

Synonyms of quiver

Verb

• shake
• shudder
• jerk
• tremble
• vibrate
• shiver

Noun (2)

• shiver
• shudder
• tremble

Examples of quiver in a Sentence

Verb

Her lips quivered when she heard the bad news.

aspen leaves quivering in the breeze

Noun (2)

a quiver ran through the audience when the monster cornered the movie's hero

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Now, 10 years later, footage and photos from the day Scott died still bring a quiver to his lip and tear to his cheek. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2026

Richards, who has always sung his blues songs with a vocal quiver that owes a debt to Reed, plays the guitar with a little more force than Reed did and affects something of a Mississippi-via-Dartford drawl on the vocals. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2026

Verb

Every once in a while, when there was a pause, my eyes started to water and my body quivered and shook a little bit. — Peter Wilkinson, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026

But because Sara is indeed only 17, wisdom is tempered by a quivering vulnerability as the reality of her pregnancy presses upon her, body and soul, forcing her to open up to Lina and discover the possibility of solidarity. — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 30 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French quivre, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English cocer quiver, Old High German kohhari

Verb

Middle English, probably from quiver agile, quick; akin to Old English cwiferlice zealously

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1786, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for quiver

• giver
• liver
• livre
• river
• shiver
• sliver
• caregiver
• deliver
• downriver
• lawgiver
• upriver

Kids Definition

quiver

1 of 3 noun

quiv·​er ˈkwiv-ər 

1

: a case for carrying arrows

2

: the arrows in a quiver

quiver

2 of 3 verb

quivered; quivering ˈkwiv-(ə-)riŋ 

: to move with a slight shaking motion

quiver

3 of 3 noun

: the act or action of quivering : tremor

Etymology

Noun

Middle English quiver "a case for carrying arrows," from early French quivre (same meaning); of Germanic origin

Verb

Middle English quiveren "to quiver," probably from quiver "agile, quick"