English Reference
Adjective

trembling

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈtɹɛmbəɫɪŋ/ UK /tɹˈɛmblɪŋ/ trem·bling

adj.shaking slightly because you are cold, afraid, or very excited.

adj.shaking involuntarily with short, quick movements. Often used as a participial adjective to describe a person's voice, hands, or physical state due to intense emotion or physical weakness.


SIMPLE

She spoke with a trembling voice.

CONTEXTUAL

The child reached out with a trembling hand to pet the large dog for the first time.

COMPLEX

The witness stood before the court, her trembling hands clutched tightly around the edge of the wooden podium as she prepared to give her testimony.

Usage

Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'be' or 'remain', or attributively before nouns like 'voice', 'hands', or 'limbs'.

Claire Danes as Beth plays this moment with a heart-wrenching sweetness, her chin trembling as she tells a crying Jo that she is not afraid and that she can be brave like her.

The Guardian· 31 Aug 2026

No test can explain why they can’t walk without falling, why their leg won’t stop trembling, or why they experience seizures that leave them exhausted for hours, even days.

The Conversation· 14 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated