shiver

¹ American  

[shiv-er] / ˈʃɪv ər /

verb (used without object)

1. to shake or tremble with cold, fear, excitement, etc.

2. Nautical.

   1. (of a fore-and-aft sail) to shake when too close to the wind.

   2. (of a sailing vessel) to be headed so close to the wind that the sails shake.

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noun

1. a tremulous motion; a tremble or quiver.

   The thought sent a shiver down her spine.

2. (the) shivers, an attack of shivering or chills.

shiver ² American  

[shiv-er] / ˈʃɪv ər /

verb (used with or without object)

1. to break or split into fragments.

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noun

1. a fragment; splinter.

shiver ¹ British  

/ ˈʃɪvə /

verb

1. to shake or tremble, as from cold or fear

2. 1. (of a sail) to luff; flap or shake

   2. (of a sailing vessel) to sail close enough to the wind to make the sails luff

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noun

1. the act of shivering; a tremulous motion

2. an attack of shivering, esp through fear or illness

shiver ² British  

/ ˈʃɪvə /

verb

1. to break or cause to break into fragments

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noun

1. a splintered piece

Related Words

Shiver, quake, shudder refer to a vibratory muscular movement, a trembling, usually involuntary. We shiver with cold, or a sensation such as that of cold: to shiver in thin clothing on a frosty day; to shiver with pleasant anticipation. We quake especially with fear: to quake with fright. We shudder with horror or abhorrence; the agitation is more powerful and deep-seated than shivering or trembling: to shudder at pictures of a concentration camp.

Other Word Forms

• shiverer noun
• shivering adjective
• shiveringly adverb

Etymology

Origin of shiver¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English noun chivere; later sh-, apparently for the sake of alliteration in phrase chiver and shake

Origin of shiver²

1150–1200; (noun) Middle English schivere fragment; cognate with German Schiefer schist; (v.) Middle English schiveren, derivative of the noun

Example Sentences

"Other insects, like bees and moths, shiver to increase their heat," Stensmyr said.

From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2026

What viewer won’t feel a shiver at the prospect of encountering such a man, or fail to wonder what tales we are capable of spinning to get through?

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 27, 2025

If possible , allow the dog to drink small amounts of cool water and continue to pour cool water over them, but not so much that they begin to shiver.

From BBC • Jun. 29, 2025

And when the time comes — when the crates of tomatoes start to dwindle and I feel that first late-summer shiver in the air — I’ll settle on a recipe.

From Salon • Jun. 2, 2025

A shiver crept along his spine—a memory he couldn’t quite catch.

From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Related Words

• flutter
• quiver
• shudder
• vibrate