tremble

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verb

trem·​ble ˈtrem-bəl 

trembled; trembling ˈtrem-b(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to shake involuntarily (as with fear or cold) : shiver

2

: to move, sound, pass, or come to pass as if shaken or tremulous

the building trembled from the blast

3

: to be affected with great fear or anxiety

trembled for the safety of her child

trembler

ˈtrem-b(ə-)lər 

noun

tremble

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noun (1)

1

: an act or instance of trembling

especially : a fit or spell of involuntary shaking or quivering

2

trembles plural in form but singular in construction : severe poisoning of livestock and especially cattle by a toxic alcohol present in a snakeroot (Ageratina altissima) and rayless goldenrod that is characterized especially by muscular tremors, weakness, and constipation

trembler

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noun (2)

trem·​bler ˈtremb(ə)lə(r) 

plural -s

1

: one that trembles or causes or records trembling

2

: any of various West Indian birds of the genera Cinclocerthia and Rhamphocinclus of the family Mimidae

3

: the vibrating hammer or spring contact piece of an electrical hammer break (as of the electric ignition apparatus for an internal-combustion engine)

trembler

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variants or tremblor

variant of temblor

Synonyms of tremble

Noun (1)

• shudder
• shiver

Examples of tremble in a Sentence

Verb

His arms and legs began to tremble.

My voice trembled as I began to speak.

I opened the letter with trembling hands.

The house trembled as the big truck drove by.

Noun (1)

with a tremble, she ventured out into the snow

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

One of the most Latino big cities in the country trembled in fear. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026

Each time the leaves trembled, the sunlight filtering through them also wavered. — Literary Hub, 11 June 2026

Noun

Be a good child, do what they’re told, be the best child, a tremble in their hands, say nothing, tensed for the knock on the door. — Literary Hub, 17 June 2026

Ultimately, the recent market trembles reveal less about the immediate dangers of AI and more about the precarious psychology of modern trading. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French trembler, from Medieval Latin tremulare, from Latin tremulus tremulous, from tremere to tremble; akin to Greek tremein to tremble

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tremble

• assemble
• dissemble
• resemble
• disassemble
• reassemble
• semble

Kids Definition

tremble

1 of 2 verb

trem·​ble ˈtrem-bəl 

trembled; trembling -b(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to shake uncontrollably (as with fear or cold) : shiver

2

: to move, sound, or happen as if shaken

the building trembled from the blast

my voice trembled

3

: to have strong fear or doubt

I tremble to think what might happen

trembler

-b(ə-)lər 

noun

tremble

2 of 2 noun

1

: a fit or spell of uncontrollable shaking or quivering

2

: a tremor or series of tremors