# shuddering

/ˈʃədɝɪŋ/ (US) · /ʃˈʌdəɹɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shuddering
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

to shake in small, quick movements because you feel cold, afraid, or sick. You do it without meaning to.

For teachers: to shake involuntarily with short, rapid movements, typically from cold, fear, or disgust. Often appears in progressive tenses to emphasize ongoing trembling.

## Examples

- She is shuddering from the cold night air.
- He stood outside the station, shuddering in his thin jacket while he waited for the late bus.
- The dog kept shuddering under the table during the storm, its ears flat as each roll of thunder shook the windows.

## Usage notes

- The verb is intransitive and takes no object; often followed by 'with' or 'from' to give the cause.

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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.