Vibrate: meaning, definitions and examples

Use 'vibrate' when something oscillates quickly and continuously, especially due to mechanical or electronic forces.

• The phone began to vibrate on the table.
• The loud music caused the windows to vibrate.

Use 'shake' for a general, often more vigorous, movement of something from side to side or up and down. It can also describe someone's body moving due to strong emotions or physical reactions.

• He shook the bottle to mix the ingredients.
• She shivered and shook with cold.

Use 'tremble' to describe an involuntary, usually slight shaking movement, often due to fear, anxiety, or cold.

• She began to tremble with fear when she heard the news.
• The little dog trembled in the cold weather.

Use 'quiver' to describe a rapid, slight trembling or shaking, often because of a strong emotion.

• Her hands began to quiver with excitement.
• The leaves quivered in the gentle breeze.

Use 'vibrate' when referring to rapid back-and-forth motion, often in response to an external force or signal. It's commonly used to describe the motion of phones, machinery, or other objects.

• My phone started to vibrate when I got a message.
• The machine vibrated loudly as it processed the materials.

Choose 'oscillation' to describe repetitive back-and-forth motion with a regular rhythm. It's often used in scientific, electronic, or mechanical contexts.

• The oscillation of the pendulum helps keep time in the clock.
• We measured the frequency of the oscillation in the electrical circuit.

'Quiver' is best used when describing a slight, rapid shaking, often caused by emotion or weakness. It carries a more delicate or subtle connotation.

• She felt a quiver in her voice as she began to speak.
• The autumn leaves quivered in the gentle breeze.

Use 'tremor' to describe an involuntary shaking, often related to medical conditions, fear, or movements in the earth. It usually has a negative or serious connotation.

• He experienced a tremor in his hands due to the neurological disorder.
• Residents felt a mild tremor during the earthquake.