shaky
SHAY-kee
Shaky (adjective) means trembling or unsteady, whether physically or figuratively. Example: “Her hands were shaky after the coffee.”
adjective
1
Trembling or unsteady, whether physically or figuratively.
"Her hands were shaky after the coffee."
"His grasp of French grammar is still a bit shaky."
How to use shaky
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPhysically trembling, or figuratively unreliable and uncertain.
Common pairings
shaky hands
shaky ground
shaky start
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like shaky.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- shakier
- Superlative
- shakiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her hands were _____ after the coffee.
Etymology
"Shake" plus "-y".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for shaky
See all rhymes for shaky →Frequently asked questions
What does “shaky” mean?
The word “shaky” means trembling or unsteady, whether physically or figuratively. In plain terms, physically trembling, or figuratively unreliable and uncertain.
How do you pronounce “shaky”?
“Shaky” is pronounced SHAY-kee (/ˈʃeɪki/ in IPA).
How do you use “shaky” in a sentence?
Here is “shaky” used in a sentence: “Her hands were shaky after the coffee.”
What part of speech is “shaky”?
“Shaky” is an adjective.
Is “shaky” a common word?
“Shaky” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
