What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
shiver
Example
I couldn't stop shivering in the freezing cold. [shivering: present participle]
Example
The horror movie made me shiver with fear. [shiver: verb]
tremble
Example
Her voice trembled as she spoke in front of the audience. [trembled: past tense]
Example
The ground trembled during the earthquake. [trembled: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Tremble is more commonly used than shiver in everyday language. Tremble is versatile and can be used to describe a wide range of physical and emotional reactions, while shiver is more specific to physical reactions to cold or illness.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between shiver and tremble?
Both shiver and tremble are relatively informal words, but tremble can be used in more formal contexts than shiver due to its versatility.
