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

UCLA’s remaining schedule isn’t making anyone quake in their cleats.

From Los Angeles Times

They’re vulnerable to collapse because the upper floor is held up only by skinny, flimsy supports that can bend or break in a quake, causing a living room or a bedroom to come crashing down on the garage.

From Los Angeles Times

Minutes later, a magnitude 2.5 quake was recorded.

From Los Angeles Times

The first rattler occurred at a depth of 3.4 miles, and the largest quake was shallower, at 0.1 miles.

From Los Angeles Times

More than 5.4 million early-warning phone alerts went out Tuesday for the magnitude 5.2 quake that struck near Bakersfield in Kern County.

From Los Angeles Times