quiver
gb/kwˈɪvɚ/ us/kwˈɪvɚ/
B2
English
~ 7900
remeg, reszket, remegés, reszketés, tegez, megremegtet, rezgésbe hoz
VERB
B2
1
Usage pattern:
to quiver with [emotion]
Her voice quivered as she told the story.
Remegő hangon mesélte el a történetet.
The leaves quivered in the cold morning breeze.
A levelek remegtek a hideg reggeli szellőben.
He tried to smile, but his lower lip quivered.
I could see his hands quiver as he signed the paper.
A line of tiny candles quivered in the draft.
Learner examples
Her voice quivered when she spoke to the boss.
Remegő hangon beszélt a főnökkel.
The small dog quivered in the snow.
A kiskutya reszketett a hóban.
His lip quivered, and then he started to cry.
The thin branch quivered in the strong wind.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "quiver" with "shiver." "Shiver" usually describes your whole body shaking because of cold or fear, while "quiver" is often used for a smaller part (like a voice, lip, or hand) shaking in a lighter, finer way. Another mistake is confusing this verb meaning with the noun "quiver" that holds arrows.
Meaning
to shake or tremble slightly
Collocations
quiver with fear
|quiver with excitement
|voice quivers
|hands quiver
|quivering lip
|quiver uncontrollably
Synonyms
tremble (More common and general; does not suggest as light or delicate a movement as "quiver".)
|
shake (Very general; can describe much stronger movement, while "quiver" suggests small, fine shaking.)
Antonyms
stay still (Describes not moving at all, which contrasts with the light, constant movement of something that quivers.)
Themes
emotions
|body
|communication
|literature
|health
|weather
Definition
To move with many small, fast shakes, often because you feel a strong emotion or are cold or weak.
To shake with short, quick, light movements, often because of strong emotion, cold, or weakness.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
a quiver in [someone’s] [body part/voice]
There was a quiver in her voice as she apologized.
Remegés volt a hangjában, amikor bocsánatot kért.
He tried to hide the quiver of his hands.
Próbálta elrejteni a keze remegését.
I heard a quiver of fear in his words.
A tiny quiver ran through the crowd when the verdict was read.
Learner examples
I could hear a quiver in his voice.
Hallottam a remegést a hangjában.
There was a small quiver in her hand.
Enyhe remegés volt a kezében.
He spoke without a quiver.
A quiver of fear went through her body.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes treat "quiver" (noun) as a general word for any big shaking, but it only describes a small, slight movement. For large, strong shaking, words like "shake" or "shudder" are more natural.
Meaning
a small trembling movement
Collocations
a quiver in his voice
|a slight quiver
|a nervous quiver
|a quiver of fear
|a quiver of excitement
Synonyms
tremor (Slightly more technical or medical; can sound more serious than "quiver" and is used for earth movements and illnesses as well.)
Antonyms
steadiness (Describes the quality of not shaking at all, which contrasts with a quick trembling movement.)
Themes
emotions
|body
|communication
Definition
A small, fast shake, often in a voice or a part of the body.
A small, quick trembling movement or sound, especially in a person’s voice or a part of the body.
NOUN
C1
3
tegez
B2
Usage pattern:
a quiver of [number] arrows
The archer pulled an arrow from his quiver.
Az íjász kihúzott egy nyílvesszőt a tegezéből.
She wore a leather quiver across her back.
Bőrtegezt viselt a hátán keresztben.
He checked that his quiver of arrows was full before the competition.
A spare bow and quiver hung on the wall of the cabin.
Learner examples
The man took an arrow from his quiver.
A férfi kivett egy nyílvesszőt a tegezéből.
She put the arrows back into the quiver.
Visszatette a nyílvesszőket a tegezbe.
The archer carried a quiver on his back.
His quiver was empty after the fight.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this is the main meaning of "quiver" because they see it in fantasy or historical stories. In everyday modern English, the verb meaning "to shake slightly" is more frequent.
Meaning
a container for arrows
Collocations
a quiver of arrows
|carry a quiver
|strap a quiver on
|reach for his quiver
|leather quiver
Synonyms
arrow case (Descriptive phrase rather than a fixed lexical item; less common than "quiver" but clearer for learners.)
Themes
sports
|weapons
|history
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A case or bag that holds arrows, often worn on the back by an archer.
A long, narrow container used for carrying and holding arrows, usually worn on the back, at the waist, or attached to a bow.
VERB
C2
LITERARY
4
megremegtet
C1
rezgésbe hoz
B2
Usage pattern:
to quiver [something]
A distant explosion quivered the windowpanes.
Egy távoli robbanás megremegtette az ablaküvegeket.
The passing train quivered the ground beneath our feet.
Az elhaladó vonat megremegtette a talajt a lábunk alatt.
The low notes of the organ quivered the air in the old church.
Learner examples
The loud sound quivered the glass.
A hangos zaj megremegtette az üveget.
The machine quivered the floor under us.
A géptől remegett alattunk a padló.
Heavy trucks quivered the bridge as they passed.
Common mistake:
Learners often do not use this transitive pattern at all and instead use the more common intransitive form ("The glass quivered"). The transitive use is rarer and mostly found in written or literary English.
Meaning
to make something tremble slightly
Collocations
quiver the air
|quiver the leaves
|quiver the surface
|quiver the strings
Synonyms
make tremble (Two-word phrase that directly describes the action; more explicit but less natural as a single verb.)
Antonyms
steady (Means to make something firm and not moving, the opposite of making it shake.)
Themes
literature
|movement
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make something move with many small, fast shakes.
To cause something to shake with small, quick movements.
Grammar
Dictionary form
quiver
IPA
GB/kwˈɪvɚ/
US/kwˈɪvɚ/
Syllables & stress
quiver (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (quiver)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: quiver
- Plural: quivers
Verb
- Base: quiver
- 3rd Person Singular: quivers
- Present Participle: quivering
- Past: quivered
Word family
Forms
quivers
noun
quivering
verb
quivered
verb
Advanced or less common
quivery
adjective
Expressions
a quiver full of arrows
1/ə kwˈɪvɚ fˈʊl əv ˈɛɹoʊz/
fixed phrase
a container completely filled with arrows
A quiver that has many arrows inside it so that it is full.
Examples
- The hunter carried a quiver full of arrows into the forest.
- He hung his bow and a quiver full of arrows by the door.
- In the painting, the warrior stands with a quiver full of arrows on his back.
with a quiver in [someone’s] voice
1/wˈɪθ ə kwˈɪvɚ ˈɪn sˈʌmwˌʌnz vˈɔɪs/
fixed phrase
speaking with a shaking voice
To speak while your voice shakes a little, usually because you feel a strong emotion.
Examples
- She said his name with a quiver in her voice.
- With a quiver in his voice, he thanked everyone for their help.
- The witness answered the question with a quiver in her voice.