Tremble usually means to shake slightly, especially because of cold, fear, or strong emotiona strong feeling such as fear, joy, or anger. It can also mean a slight involuntaryhappening without conscious control or deliberate effort shaking movement. As a noun, it refers to that shaking or quiveringa trembling, shuddering, or shaky movement action.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈtrɛmbəl/
Easy pronunciation: TREM-buhl (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress on the first syllable.
Verb sense: to move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Tremble Meaning
to shake slightly without meaning to
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
Example: Her hands trembled as she read the letter.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- shake — Works in many situations, though it is broader and less specific than tremble.
- shiver — Fits when the trembling is caused by cold or fear.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Tremble
Meaning 2
a shaking or quivering movement caused by cold, fear, or excitement
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a reflex motion caused by cold or fear or excitement
Example: He felt a tremble in his voice before the speech began.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- shake — Can refer to the same general shaking movement, though it is less specific.
- shiver — Best when the trembling is from cold or fear.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Tremble Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- shake
- shiver
noun: a reflex motion caused by cold, fear, or excitement
- shake
- shiver
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using tremble only for fear; it can also describe cold, excitement, or a general involuntary shake.
- Mixing up the verb tremble with the noun tremble, which refer to different parts of speech.
- Using shake as if it always means tremble; shake is broader and can be intentional.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does tremble mean?
Tremble means to shake slightly and involuntarily, often because of cold, fear, or strong feeling.
What is a synonym for tremble?
Common synonyms include shake and shiver, depending on the sense and context.
Is tremble a noun or a verb?
It can be both: a verb meaning to shake involuntarily, and a noun meaning a slight shaking or quivering movement.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-25. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
