# shivering

/ˈʃɪvɝɪŋ/ (US) · /ʃˈɪvəɹɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shivering
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

shaking slightly because you are cold, sick, or afraid.

For teachers: shaking involuntarily as a result of cold, illness, or intense emotion. Often used as a participial adjective to describe a person's physical state.

## Examples

- The shivering child wrapped a warm blanket around his shoulders.
- After waiting for the bus in the rain for twenty minutes, the shivering commuters were relieved to see the heater was working.
- The rescue team found the shivering hikers huddled together in a small cave, suffering from the early stages of hypothermia after the sudden blizzard.

## Usage notes

- Often follows linking verbs like 'be', 'feel', or 'stand'.

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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.