What does quakingly mean?
Quakingly is an uncommon adverb describing an action performed in a trembling or shaking manner. It often implies that the movement results from fear, anxiety, cold, weakness, or intense emotion: a witness may speak quakingly, or someone may stand quakingly before a threatening situation. The adverb is especially associated with older literary and descriptive prose, whereas contemporary writers more often choose “shakily,” “tremblingly,” or “with a tremor.” Although its form may appear straightforward, quakingly is not especially common in everyday speech and can sound deliberately formal or descriptive. It remains useful when the precise manner of movement matters or when an author wants to evoke the physical impression of trembling. It should not be used simply to mean quietly or nervously unless trembling is genuinely implied.
adverbIn a trembling or shaking manner, especially as a result of fear, cold, or emotion.
- In a trembling or shaking manner.
"She answered the question quakingly, barely able to make herself heard."
"The witness spoke quakingly while describing the scene."
"He steadied himself against the wall and continued quakingly."
The form is built in the open: quake becomes quaking, and the ending -ly turns it into an adverb that conveys movement.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does quakingly come from?
Quakingly was formed within English by adding the suffix -ly to the present participle “quaking.” “Quake” comes from Middle English quaken, from Old English cwacan, meaning to tremble or shake. The same English root appears in “quakes” and “earthquakes,” with the latter referring to a shaking of the ground.
How quakingly is actually used
This adverb is uncommon and somewhat literary. In modern usage, “shakily” or “tremblingly” is generally more natural.