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verb

shudder

SHUH-duh

Shudder (verb) means to shake briefly, usually from fear, cold, or disgust. Example: “She shuddered at the thought of spiders in the room.”

verb
1
To shake briefly, usually from fear, cold, or disgust.
"She shuddered at the thought of spiders in the room."
"He shuddered as the cold wind hit him."
noun
1
A brief trembling caused by fear, cold, or disgust.
"A shudder ran through the crowd as the news broke."
"A shudder of excitement passed through her."

How to Use Shudder

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA quick, involuntary shiver, usually triggered by fear, cold, or something unpleasant.

Common pairings
shudder with fear a shudder ran through shudder to think

Word Forms

shuddered past tense, shudders plural, shudders singular

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She _____ at the thought of spiders in the room.

Etymology

From Middle English schoderen, related to Dutch and German words meaning "to shake."

Origin: Middle English

Related Words

Rhymes for shudder

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “shudder” mean?

The word “shudder” means to shake briefly, usually from fear, cold, or disgust. In plain terms, a quick, involuntary shiver, usually triggered by fear, cold, or something unpleasant.

How do you pronounce “shudder”?

“Shudder” is pronounced SHUH-duh (/ˈʃʌdəː/ in IPA).

How do you use “shudder” in a sentence?

Here is “shudder” used in a sentence: “She shuddered at the thought of spiders in the room.”

What part of speech is “shudder”?

Depending on how it is used, “shudder” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “shudder” come from?

The word “shudder” comes from Middle English. From Middle English schoderen, related to Dutch and German words meaning "to shake.".

How many meanings does “shudder” have?

“Shudder” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to shake briefly, usually from fear, cold, or disgust.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial