tremble
2 synonyms for tremble, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To shake with quick, small movements, often from cold, fear, weakness, or strong emotion.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To shake with quick, small movements, often from cold, fear, weakness, or strong emotion.
“Her hands trembled as she opened the letter.”
How to use tremble
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
tremble with fear
hands trembling
voice trembled
Etymology
From Old French trembler, going back to Latin tremulare and the verb tremere, "to shake" — the same root behind tremor and tremendous.
Full origin of tremble →Frequently asked questions
What does “tremble” mean?
The word “tremble” means to shake with quick, small movements, often from cold, fear, weakness, or strong emotion. In plain terms, to shake slightly and involuntarily, usually because you are cold, scared, weak, or overcome with feeling.
How do you pronounce “tremble”?
“Tremble” is pronounced TREHMBL (/ˈtɹɛmbl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “tremble” in a sentence?
Here is “tremble” used in a sentence: “Her hands trembled as she opened the letter.”
What part of speech is “tremble”?
Depending on how it is used, “tremble” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “tremble” come from?
The word “tremble” comes from Latin. From Old French trembler, going back to Latin tremulare and the verb tremere, "to shake" — the same root behind tremor and tremendous.
How many meanings does “tremble” have?
“Tremble” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to shake with quick, small movements, often from cold, fear, weakness, or strong emotion.
