What does shudder mean?
To shudder is to shake suddenly, usually without meaning to do so. The movement is brief and involuntary, and it often accompanies fear, horror, disgust, shock, or intense emotion, as when someone “shudders with fear” or feels “a shudder of revulsion.” A shudder can also describe a physical vibration, such as a bridge or lift moving abruptly under strain. As a noun, a shudder is the sudden movement itself and can be identified by its cause: a shudder of fear, horror, or disgust. Compared with the broader word shake, shudder usually implies a more sudden, uncontrollable reaction rather than an ordinary or deliberate movement. The term is especially useful in narrative writing because it communicates both a physical sensation and the emotional force behind it.
To shake suddenly and involuntarily, especially from fear, disgust, shock, or intense emotion.
"The thought of what lay ahead made her shudder."
Often transitive in the construction “shudder with fear” or “shudder at something,” and intransitive when no cause is stated.
A sudden, brief, involuntary shaking of the body caused by fear, disgust, shock, or another strong sensation.
"A shudder ran through her as she read the final line."
Common in the fixed expressions “a shudder of horror,” “a shudder of revulsion,” and “a shudder of fear.”
Used for individual instances of involuntary shaking, especially in expressions such as “a series of shudders.”
"He tried to suppress the shudders that moved through his body."
A shudder is the body’s sudden involuntary response to something too alarming, disgusting, or intense to ignore.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does shudder come from?
The word appears in Middle English in forms meaning “to shake” or “tremble,” with noun uses developed from those earlier verb forms. Its exact older origin is uncertain, so a more specific derivation would be speculative. Modern forms in related languages show that the concept of shaking or trembling has long been expressed across several Germanic vocabularies.
Related word forms
How shudder is actually used
The word is commonly used for a sudden, brief movement and often conveys fear, horror, disgust, or intense emotion. In descriptions of machinery or vehicles, it describes a brief vibration or abrupt movement.