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Meaning & use

quiver

verb, noun·Everyday

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UK/ˈkwɪvə/
US/ˈkwɪvər/

Meanings

  1. verbintransitive

    To shake slightly and quickly, usually because of cold, fear or strong feeling.

    Grammar: No object; often followed by with: quiver with excitement.

    Patterns

    • quiver with something
    • quiver in something

    The puppy quivered with excitement at the door.

    Her voice quivered as she read the letter.

    The leaves quivered in the wind.

  2. nouncountable

    A small shaking movement, or a brief shaky feeling.

    Grammar: Often singular with a: a quiver of fear.

    Patterns

    • a quiver of something

    There was a quiver in his hand as he lifted the cup.

    She felt a quiver of nerves before the interview.

    A slight quiver passed through the crowd.

  3. nouncountable

    A container for holding arrows, usually worn on the back.

    Grammar: A separate word with the same spelling; takes a plural: two quivers.

    Patterns

    • a quiver of arrows

    The archer reached back and took an arrow from her quiver.

    A leather quiver hung from his shoulder.

    The museum displays an ancient quiver filled with bone-tipped arrows.

Word forms

third person singularquivers
past tensequivered
past participlequivered
-ing formquivering
plural nounquivers

Common combinations

quiver with fear
The child quivered with fear in the dark.
quiver with excitement
Fans quivered with excitement before the show.
lip quivers
Her lip quivered as she tried not to cry.
a quiver of arrows
He carried a quiver of arrows into the forest.
voice quivers
His voice quivered when he spoke about home.

Synonyms and how they differ

tremble
Tremble is a bit stronger and more common, often for fear, while quiver suggests a lighter, faster flutter.
shiver
Shiver is mostly from cold or sudden fear, and can pass through the whole body.
shudder
Shudder is a stronger, one-time movement caused by horror or disgust.
flutter
Flutter describes light fast moving of wings or fabric, not a person's shake.

Opposites

steady

Word family

quivering adjective
shaking slightly
quivery adjective
inclined to shake, as a quivery voice
quiveringly adverb
in a trembling way
quaver verb
to shake, usually of the voice

Commonly confused: quiver or quaver? quiver or shiver?

quiver vs quaver

Quaver describes a shaky voice or musical note, while quiver can describe any body or object.

quiver vs shiver

Shiver is chiefly cold or fear; quiver is slighter and can come from joy.

Practice

Her chin began to ___ as she tried not to cry.

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