tremble

1 of 2

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

2 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms

Noun

• 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

with a tremble, she ventured out into the snow

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Wires were seen submerged in pooling water across the floor and high winds made the floor and walls of the facility’s tents tremble, reporter video from CNN affiliate Spectrum News 13 showed. —Devon M. Sayers, CNN Money, 3 July 2025

The sound is electronic and rhythmically driven; the singing trembles with desire and confusion. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 June 2025

Noun

Furman is one of a kind: a trans, devoutly Jewish former rabbinical student who’s written a book about Lou Reed and sings folk-punk songs in a mercurial tremble. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 22 May 2025

Valeria leaves guard duties to Ellen, a grandmother with a constant tremble in her hands from her MS. —James Grebey, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2024

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

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