quake
gb/kwˈeɪk/ us/kwˈeɪk/
B1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
event
1
an earthquake
A quake is an earthquake.
Usage pattern:
a/an [quake]; the [quake] hits/strikes [place]
Common mistake:
Learners may use quake for any strong vibration (e.g., from music); in general English it most often refers to an earthquake.
Synonyms
earthquake (The full, most common word for the event.)
|
temblor (More common in US news reporting; less common in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
stillness (Lack of movement or shaking.)
Collocations
a strong quake
|a powerful quake
|a major quake
|a minor quake
|an undersea quake
|a shallow quake
|a quake hits
|a quake strikes
|the quake’s epicenter
|after the quake
Themes
nature
|geography
|weather_and_climate
|news
Examples
- A 6.2 quake hit the region early this morning.
- Thousands of people were left without power after the quake.
- The quake’s epicenter was just offshore.
Learner examples
- There was a quake last night.
- The quake damaged many buildings.
Verb
B2
action
2
shake strongly, especially the ground
If something quakes, it shakes a lot.
Usage pattern:
[place/ground/building] quakes; quake [with/from something]
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse quake (shake) with quack (the sound a duck makes).
Synonyms
shake (More general; can be mild or strong.)
|
tremble (Often suggests a smaller, quicker shaking.)
|
rumble (Emphasizes a deep sound along with movement.)
Antonyms
steady (Not shaking; stable.)
|
still (Not moving.)
Collocations
the ground quaked
|the earth quaked
|the house quaked
|the building quaked
|the room quaked
|quake violently
|quake suddenly
|quake beneath your feet
|quake from the impact
|quake with the blast
Themes
nature
|geography
|movement
Examples
- The ground quaked as the earthquake began.
- Windows rattled while the whole building seemed to quake.
- The valley quaked from the explosion in the distance.
Learner examples
- The floor quaked under my feet.
Verb
B2
action
3
tremble from fear or cold
If you quake, you shake because you are afraid, cold, or very nervous.
Usage pattern:
quake with [fear/cold]; quake at [the thought/sight of something]
Common mistake:
In this sense, quake is less common than tremble or shiver in everyday conversation.
Synonyms
tremble (The most direct and common synonym.)
|
shiver (Often linked to cold; can also be fear.)
|
quiver (Often suggests small, delicate shaking.)
Antonyms
relax (Become calm and stop shaking from tension.)
|
steady (Become firm and controlled instead of trembling.)
Collocations
quake with fear
|quake with terror
|quake with cold
|quake at the thought of
|quake at the sight of
|quake uncontrollably
|begin to quake
|make someone quake
|quake in panic
|quake with anxiety
Themes
emotions
|body_and_health
|movement
Examples
- She quaked with fear as she heard footsteps outside.
- I was quaking with cold after standing in the rain.
- He quaked at the thought of giving a speech.
Learner examples
- I quaked with fear.
- She quaked with cold.
Noun
literary
C1
event
4
a trembling or shaking
A quake can mean a strong shaking feeling in your body.
Usage pattern:
a quake of [fear/disgust/excitement]
Common mistake:
This body-related noun sense is much less common than quake meaning an earthquake.
Synonyms
shudder (Often suggests a brief, involuntary shake.)
|
tremor (Often used for small shaking, sometimes medical.)
Antonyms
calm (A state without shaking or sudden physical reaction.)
Collocations
a quake of fear
|a sudden quake
|a small quake
|a quake ran through him
|feel a quake
Themes
body_and_health
|emotions
|movement
Examples
- A quake of fear went through him when the lights went out.
- She felt a brief quake run down her arms.
- At the sound, a quake of disgust crossed his face.
Grammar
Dictionary form
quake
IPA
GB/kwˈeɪk/
US/kwˈeɪk/
Syllables & stress
quake (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (quake)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: quake
- Plural: quakes
Verb
- Base: quake
- 3rd Person Singular: quakes
- Present Participle: quaking
- Past: quaked
Word family
Forms
quakes
noun
quaking
verb
quaked
verb
Core family
earthquake
noun B1
Expressions
quake in your boots
1/kwˈeɪk ˈɪn jˈʊɹ bˈuts/
idiom
informal
be very frightened
To be very scared.
Examples
- He thinks his threats will make us quake in our boots, but they won’t.
- The team arrived looking confident, and nobody was quaking in their boots.
- She told him not to expect her to quake in her boots just because he raised his voice.