What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
trembled
Example
She trembled with fear when she saw the spider. [trembled: verb]
Example
His hands trembled as he signed the contract. [trembled: past tense]
Example
The ground trembled as the earthquake hit. [trembled: past participle]
vibrate
Example
The phone vibrated on the table when it received a message. [vibrated: verb]
Example
The guitar strings vibrated as he played a chord. [vibrated: past tense]
Example
The atmosphere vibrated with excitement as the band took the stage. [vibrated: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Vibrate is more commonly used than tremble in everyday language. Vibrate is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while tremble is less common and typically used in specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between trembled and vibrate?
Both tremble and vibrate can be used in formal and informal contexts, but vibrate may be more commonly used in technical or scientific contexts due to its association with machines and objects.
