View synonyms for

quake

[kweyk]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used without object)

quaked, quaking

(of persons) to shake or tremble from cold, weakness, fear, anger, or the like.
He spoke boldly even though his legs were quaking.
Synonyms:
(of things) to shake or tremble, as from shock, internal convulsion, or instability.
The earth suddenly began to quake.
Synonyms:

noun

an earthquake.
a trembling or tremulous agitation.

quake

/ ��ɱ�ɪ�� /

verb

to shake or tremble with or as with fear
to convulse or quiver, as from instability

noun

the act or an instance of quaking
informal��short for earthquake

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Other Word Forms

quakingly adverb
unquaking adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of quake¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English cwacian “to shake, tremble”

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Word History and Origins

Origin of quake¹

Old English cwacian; related to Old English cweccan to shake, Old Irish bocaim, German wackeln

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Synonym Study

See shiver ¹.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

In Orange County, a magnitude 6.8 quake just offshore could bring a local-source tsunami to the coast in as little as 15 minutes, county documents say.

From

We have to ridicule and humble Trump rather than calling on everyone to quake in their boots and be overcome by the vapors in the face of Trump’s attacks.

From

Then there’s de Lesseps, a charmer so adept at the art of seduction that Casanova would quake in his pantaloons watching her work.

From

The Labour leadership won't be quaking in its boots when attacked by the Left.

From

Risk of a monster quake and tsunami off California’s North Coast is greater than researchers once thought.

From

quair quake in one's boots

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