quavering

C1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈkweɪvərɪŋ/ UK /ˈkweɪvərɪŋ/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
shaking or trembling in voice, often due to nervousness or emotion

Her voice was quavering as she delivered the speech.
2

verb
producing a trembling sound

His voice quavered as he tried to hold back tears.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · shaking or trembling in... trembling wavering shaky tremulous vibrating

2 verb · producing a trembling sound tremble shake waver vibrate quiver

Opposites

steady firm

Etymology

From Middle English quave ('to tremble') + the suffix -ing, giving quavering ('trembling or shaking'), now used of a trembling voice or sound.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# quavering

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** adj, verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈkweɪvərɪŋ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈkweɪvərɪŋ/

## Meanings
1. shaking or trembling in voice, often due to nervousness or emotion
2. producing a trembling sound

## Examples
- Her voice was quavering as she delivered the speech.
- His voice quavered as he tried to hold back tears.

## Synonyms
- trembling
- wavering
- shaky
- tremulous
- vibrating
- tremble
- shake
- waver
- vibrate
- quiver

## Antonyms
- steady
- firm

## Etymology
From Middle English quave ('to tremble') + the suffix -ing, giving quavering ('trembling or shaking'), now used of a trembling voice or sound.

## AI Etymology
Quavering comes from Middle English quave ('to tremble') + the suffix -ing, giving quavering ('trembling or shaking'), now used of a trembling voice or sound. In current use it is an adjective and verb meaning "shaking or trembling in voice, often due to nervousness or emotion". That sense is explained by the older material without requiring a speculative semantic step: the inherited or borrowed base supplies the field of meaning, while the English formation fixes its modern role. The -ing ending supplies a participial or action-noun shape. The surface form is compositional: its joined elements remain visible in the modern word. The word's history is thus visible in its construction: the components remain interpretable even after the whole expression has settled into a conventional English meaning.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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