# shaking

/ˈʃeɪkɪŋ/ (US) · /ʃˈeɪkɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shaking
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. physical movement

noun · CEFR A2

a quick movement from side to side or up and down.

For teachers: an instance of vibrating, trembling, or rapid oscillation.

- The sudden shaking of the ground made everyone run outside.
- The violent shaking of the old bridge during the storm caused the engineers to close it to traffic immediately.

Usage: Often used with 'of' to describe the source, such as 'the shaking of the building'.

### 3. body trembling

noun · CEFR B1

when your body or hands move because you are cold, scared, or sick.

For teachers: involuntary trembling or shivering of the body, often due to physiological or psychological stress.

- He tried to hide the shaking of his hands during the interview.
- The patient reported uncontrollable shaking in her limbs, which the doctor suspected was a side effect of the new medication.

Teaching tip: While 'shivering' is specific to cold or fever, 'shaking' is a more general term for any body tremor.

## Examples

- The sudden shaking of the ground scared everyone.
- After the long hike in the rain, the dog gave its fur a vigorous shaking to get dry.
- The violent shaking of the aircraft during the storm caused several overhead bins to pop open, though the pilot eventually regained control and landed safely.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.