quake

[ kweyk ]

verb (used without object)

, quaked, quak·ing.

1. (of persons) to shake or tremble from cold, weakness, fear, anger, or the like:

   He spoke boldly even though his legs were quaking.

   Synonyms: shudder

2. (of things) to shake or tremble, as from shock, internal convulsion, or instability:

   The earth suddenly began to quake.

   Synonyms: quiver

noun

1. an earthquake.
2. a trembling or tremulous agitation.

quake

/ kweɪk /

verb

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

noun

1. the act or an instance of quaking
2. informal.
   short for earthquake

Other Words From

• quaking·ly adverb
• un·quaking adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of quake¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of quake¹

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

Synonym Study

See shiver ¹.

Example Sentences

When a quake does hit, modern early warning systems can help people brace for shaking.

From Science News

Other robots use lasers to scout below the surface of Mars to find out what they are made of — and if there are quakes.

From Science News For Students

The overwhelming majority of the destruction came from the flames, not the quake.

From ProPublica

Most of the quakes were far too small to be felt but were detectable by the sensors.

From Science News

This is a quake that measures 7 or more on the Richter scale.

From Science News For Students

But with a stronger quake, we could have a serious problem.

From The Daily Beast

If anything demonstrates the power of comedy to make dictators quake in their boots, it is the events of the past few days.

From The Daily Beast

Almost six years after the deadly quake, little of the money pledged to rebuild the broken city has been anted up.

From The Daily Beast

It is aware that the fear on which it ultimately thrives is that of politicians who quake at its supposed influence and money.

From The Daily Beast

The smaller wineries still cleaning up from the quake are not yet equipped to process fruit.

From The Daily Beast

I could feel a quake go through him as a tree which has just been cut throbs before it falls.

From Project Gutenberg

Your Court is made up of owls who fear the light, of old men who quake in the presence of the young, or who simply disregard them.

From Project Gutenberg

It made him quake to think that she might suddenly see out of those dear, blind eyes.

From Project Gutenberg

"That was an awful big quake," replied Zeb, with a white face.

From Project Gutenberg

He was, I think, the only man in Thrums who did not quake when the minister looked at him.

From Project Gutenberg