verb
B1
Intermediate
shiver
SHIH-vuh
Shiver (verb) means to tremble briefly, usually from cold, fear, or a strong emotion. Example: “She shivered as the icy wind cut through her jacket.”
verb
1
To tremble briefly, usually from cold, fear, or a strong emotion.
"She shivered as the icy wind cut through her jacket."
"He shivered at the thought of speaking in public."
noun
1
A brief trembling, or the shudder it produces.
"A shiver ran down his spine when he heard the noise upstairs."
2
A splinter or small broken fragment, especially of glass or wood.
"The window smashed into a hundred shivers of glass."
3
A group of sharks swimming together.
"Divers spotted a shiver of reef sharks near the drop-off."
How to use shiver
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA quick, involuntary shudder — from cold, fear, excitement, or sometimes a broken splinter of something.
Common mistake
The "splinter" and "group of sharks" senses are much rarer than the everyday "tremble with cold/fear" meaning.
Common pairings
send shivers down your spine
shiver with cold
a shiver of fear
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Word forms
- Plural
- shivers
- Third person singular
- shivers
- Past tense
- shivered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She _____ as the icy wind cut through her jacket.
Etymology
Origin uncertain — possibly related to an old word for splitting into fragments, later applied to the trembling of the body.
Related words
Rhymes for shiver
See all rhymes for shiver →Frequently asked questions
What does “shiver” mean?
The word “shiver” means to tremble briefly, usually from cold, fear, or a strong emotion. In plain terms, a quick, involuntary shudder — from cold, fear, excitement, or sometimes a broken splinter of something.
How do you pronounce “shiver”?
“Shiver” is pronounced SHIH-vuh (/ˈʃɪvɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “shiver” in a sentence?
Here is “shiver” used in a sentence: “She shivered as the icy wind cut through her jacket.”
What part of speech is “shiver”?
Depending on how it is used, “shiver” can be a verb and a noun.
How many meanings does “shiver” have?
“Shiver” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to tremble briefly, usually from cold, fear, or a strong emotion.
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