verb
B1
Intermediate
tremble
TREHMBL
Tremble (verb) means to shake with quick, small movements, often from cold, fear, weakness, or strong emotion. Example: “Her hands trembled as she opened the letter.”
verb
1
To shake with quick, small movements, often from cold, fear, weakness, or strong emotion.
"Her hands trembled as she opened the letter."
"The old bridge trembled every time a truck crossed it."
noun
1
A shaking or quivering movement.
"There was a tremble in his voice when he said goodbye."
How to use tremble
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo shake slightly and involuntarily, usually because you are cold, scared, weak, or overcome with feeling.
Common pairings
tremble with fear
hands trembling
voice trembled
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Word forms
- Plural
- trembles
- Third person singular
- trembles
- Past tense
- trembled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her hands _____ as she opened the letter.
Etymology
From Old French trembler, going back to Latin tremulare and the verb tremere, "to shake" — the same root behind tremor and tremendous.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for tremble
See all rhymes for 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.
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