quake
6 synonyms for quake, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Short for earthquake — a sudden violent shaking of the ground.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
Short for earthquake — a sudden violent shaking of the ground.
“The quake knocked out power across the city.”
How to use quake
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
quake with fear
the earth quaked
a violent quake
Etymology
From Old English cwacian, "to tremble, shake, chatter," of imitative origin describing a shaking motion.
Full origin of quake →Frequently asked questions
What does “quake” mean?
The word “quake” means short for earthquake — a sudden violent shaking of the ground. In plain terms, to shake or tremble — literally (the ground) or figuratively (from fear).
How do you pronounce “quake”?
“Quake” is pronounced kwayk (/kweɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “quake” in a sentence?
Here is “quake” used in a sentence: “The quake knocked out power across the city.”
What part of speech is “quake”?
Depending on how it is used, “quake” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “quake” come from?
The word “quake” comes from Old English. From Old English cwacian, "to tremble, shake, chatter," of imitative origin describing a shaking motion.
Is “quake” a common word?
“Quake” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “quake” have?
“Quake” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: short for earthquake — a sudden violent shaking of the ground.
