# shiver

/ˈʃɪvɝ/ (US) · /ʃˈɪvɐ/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shiver
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

to shake slightly because you are cold, afraid, or excited. It is a quick movement your body makes that you cannot control.

For teachers: to shake or tremble involuntarily, typically as a physiological response to low temperature or strong emotion. Often used to describe the physical manifestation of fear or anticipation.

## Examples

- The cold wind made me shiver.
- The children began to shiver as they waited for the school bus in the snow.
- Even under the thick wool blankets, he continued to shiver from the fever that had gripped him since the previous evening.

## Usage notes

- The verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object.

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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.