shiver
verb
What shiver means
To shake slightly because you are cold, ill or afraid.
I was shivering with cold at the bus stop.
She shivered when she heard the noise.
Test yourself
Five questions about shiver
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Question 1 of 5Meaning
What does shiver mean?
When you shiver, your body shakes a little in small, quick movements, for example when you stand outside in winter without a coat or when you feel scared.
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Question 2 of 5Situation
You are waiting for the bus in the snow without a coat, and your whole body is shaking a little. You are…
Small, quick shaking because of the cold is shivering. You sweat when you are hot, you sneeze through your nose, and fainting means you lose consciousness.
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Question 3 of 5Gap
It was freezing in the tent, and we lay awake ___ all night.
In a freezing tent your body shakes with cold, so you shiver. You sweat when you are hot, and you only snore when you are asleep, not awake.
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Question 4 of 5Similar word
Which word is closest in meaning to shiver?
Tremble also means to shake slightly, often because of fear, cold or weakness, so it is the closest to shiver. The other verbs describe different things your body does.
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Question 5 of 5Correct use
Which sentence uses shiver correctly?
You shiver with cold, and shiver has no object: the cold makes you shiver, it does not shiver you. Of is the wrong preposition, and was shivered is not a correct form.
Keys 1 to 4 pick an answer, Enter goes on.
Shiver in a sentence
5 more examples of shiver in everyday situations.
- With friends
Can we go inside now? I’m shivering out here.
- At the lake
The kids came out of the water shivering and wrapped themselves in towels.
- At the doctor
Tell the doctor if you are shivering and have a fever at the same time.
- As a noun
A shiver ran down my spine when the lights suddenly went out.
- In a story
She stood in the doorway, shivering in her thin jacket.
How to use shiver
Shiver is a small, quick shaking. A shiver can also run down your spine when you are afraid or excited. A cold or fever can make you shiver.
The adjective is shivery, and the noun is a shiver.
Forms
- shivershe, she, it
- shiveredpast and past participle
- shivering-ing form
- a shivernoun
- shiveryadjective
Patterns
- shiver with cold / fear
- shiver in the cold / wind
- a shiver runs down your spine
- send shivers down someone’s spine
Common mistakes with shiver
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NotI am shivering of cold.
SayI am shivering with cold.
We say that someone shivers with cold or with fear; the preposition of is wrong here.
Shiver or tremble or shake?
- shiver or tremble
- Tremble is used more for fear, nerves or weakness, often about hands or a voice; shiver is used more for cold or fever, and often describes the whole body shaking.
- shiver or shake
- Shake is the general word for any quick movement up and down or side to side; shiver is one kind of small shaking caused by cold, illness or fear.
Shiver is a C1 word. Is that your level? Take the level test or count the words you know.
Shiver word family and collocations
The words that go with shiver, so you can use it in a whole phrase.
Common collocations
- shiver with cold
- shiver with fear
- a shiver down your spine
- shiver in the wind
- send shivers
Word family
- shiver (verb, noun)
- shivery (adjective)
Similar words
- tremble
Questions about shiver
What is the past tense of shiver?
The past tense and past participle are both shivered, as in “I shivered all night.” The -ing form is shivering, with one r.
What does send shivers down my spine mean?
It means something gives you a sudden strong feeling of fear or excitement. A scary story or a beautiful song can send shivers down your spine.
Is shiver also a noun?
Yes. A shiver is one short shake of the body, as in “I felt a shiver.” Something that gives you the shivers makes you feel afraid or uneasy.
The word before
Do you still remember souvenir?
One question about the word from 17 October. Remembering a word a day later helps it stay.
One question
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What does souvenir mean?
A souvenir is a small object, like a magnet or a postcard, that you bring home so you remember a place you visited.
Keys 1 to 4 pick an answer.
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