What does "shiver" mean?
The act of shivering.
Shiver
/ˈʃɪvɚ/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of shivering.
- Grammar: shiver is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: chill, frisson, quiver, shake.
- Useful contrasts: boldness, calm, composure.
- Usage evidence: The mere thought of a snake makes me shiver.
How to use "shiver"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "shiver" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "shiver" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "shiver" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "shiver" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "shiver" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "chill" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "shiver", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of shivering.
"A shiver went up my spine."
- 2 A fragment or splinter, especially of glass or stone.
- 3 Collective noun for a group of sharks. collective
- 4 a reflex motion caused by cold or fear or excitement wordnet
- 5 A bodily response to early hypothermia.
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 A fragment or splinter, especially of glass or stone.; A splinter of wood embedded in the flesh Norfolk
- 7 an almost pleasurable sensation of fright wordnet
- 8 A thin slice; a shive. UK, dialectal, obsolete
"a shiver of their own loaf"
- 9 A variety of blue slate.
- 10 A sheave or small wheel in a pulley.
- 11 A small wedge, as for fastening the bolt of a window shutter.
- 12 A spindle. UK, dialectal, obsolete
Verb
- 1 To tremble or shake, especially when cold or frightened.
"They stood outside for hours, shivering in the frosty air."
- 2 To break into splinters or fragments.
"The man, O Muse, inform, that many a way / Wound with his wisdom to his wished stay; / That wandered wondrous far, when he the town / Of sacred Troy had sack'd and shivered down; […]"
- 3 shake, as from cold wordnet
- 4 To cause to shake or tremble, as a sail, by steering close to the wind. transitive
- 5 tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Antonyms
Example
"The mere thought of a snake makes me shiver."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "shiver"?
Common synonyms include: chill, frisson, quiver, shake, thrill, tremble.
How do you use "shiver" in a sentence?
The mere thought of a snake makes me shiver.
How do you pronounce "shiver"?
Pronounced /ˈʃɪvɚ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Origin uncertain, perhaps an alteration of chavel, or a frequentive of sheaf.
Etymology 2
From a Germanic word, probably present in Old English though unattested, cognate with Old High German scivaro (German Schiefer (“slate”)).
Etymology 3
Origin uncertain