shakily

IPA/ˈʃeɪkɪli/
IPA/ˈʃeɪkɪli/

shakily — adverb

1. with physical trembling caused by illness, weakness, old age, or strong feelings

1.adverbB2
Definition

with physical trembling caused by illness, weakness, old age, or strong feelings such as fear or nervousness

Example

After a week with the flu, Nellie stood shakily and walked to the window.

shakily + verbs of movement (stood, walked)

Padma rose shakily from the hospital bed and reached for her walking stick.

Common collocations
  • stand shakily
  • walk shakily
  • rise shakily
  • lift shakily
Synonyms
  • tremblingly

    more direct focus on the shaking motion itself

  • unsteadily

    broader — can describe shaky movement from any cause

  • falteringly

    adds a sense of hesitation or uncertainty to the movement

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

shakily + verb of movement (stand, walk, rise, lift)

Usage Note

Commonly used with verbs that describe getting up, walking, or holding objects — actions that become difficult when the body is trembling.

Common Mistakes

He shakily to the door
He walked shakily to the door.
shakily is an adverb, not a verb; it needs a main verb like walk, stand, or rise.

2. swaying to the left and right in an unsteady way, as if about to fall over becau

2.adverbB2
Definition

swaying to the left and right in an unsteady way, as if about to fall over because something is not properly balanced or fixed

Example

The tall pile of boxes balanced shakily on the chair in the corner.

shakily + verb of position (balanced)

Asher's bicycle wobbled shakily as he tried to ride up the steep hill.

Common collocations
  • balance shakily
  • wobble shakily
  • stand shakily
  • sit shakily
Synonyms
  • unsteadily

    more general; can describe people or objects

  • precariously

    adds a sense of danger or risk of falling

  • wobblingly

    more informal; suggests a visible side-to-side motion

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

shakily + verb of position (balance, stand, wobble)

Usage Note

Focuses on the physical instability of objects or structures, not on a person's body trembling. Subject is typically an inanimate object like a pile, ladder, bicycle, or piece of furniture.

Common Mistakes

❌ 'The table stood shakily' when the table itself is well-built — use only when the object is actually unbalanced or loose.

3. in a voice that trembles slightly and shows a lack of confidence, often because

3.adverbB2
Definition

in a voice that trembles slightly and shows a lack of confidence, often because of nervousness, fear, or sadness

Example

I am truly sorry, Indra said shakily, her voice barely above a whisper.

shakily + verb of speaking (said) — for trembling voice

That is the right street, Layla said shakily, though she was not really sure.

Common collocations
  • say shakily
  • speak shakily
  • answer shakily
  • whisper shakily
Synonyms
  • hesitantly

    focuses on uncertainty rather than vocal trembling

  • falteringly

    suggests the voice breaks or stops and starts

  • tremulously

    more literary; describes a trembling voice

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

shakily + verb of speaking (say, speak, answer, whisper)

Usage Note

Only describes how a person speaks — the trembling is in the voice, not the body. Often used in dialogue tags or descriptions of emotional moments.

Common Mistakes

❌ 'He wrote shakily' when describing a nervous letter — that is sense 1 (body trembling); for voice, use with said, spoke, answered, or whispered.

4. showing a lack of stability or a weak foundation, so that future success or prog

4.adverbC1
Definition

showing a lack of stability or a weak foundation, so that future success or progress seems doubtful

Example

The new restaurant ran shakily for six months before it finally closed down.

shakily + verb of progress (ran) — figurative use for businesses

The football team started shakily but improved a lot as the game went on.

Common collocations
  • run shakily
  • start shakily
  • hold shakily
  • stand shakily
Synonyms
  • precariously

    more formal; emphasizes imminent risk of failure

  • insecurely

    focuses on lack of stable foundation

  • uncertainly

    broader; describes lack of certainty about success

Antonyms
  • steadily

    in a stable, secure way

  • strongly

    with a firm foundation and good prospects

Grammar Patterns

shakily + verb of progress or stability (run, start, hold)

Usage Note

Figurative sense — does not describe physical shaking. Subject is usually an organization, plan, relationship, or system that is in danger of failing.

Common Mistakes

The agreement was shakily
The agreement held shakily
shakily is an adverb, not an adjective; it must modify a verb like held, ran, or started.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four words describe movement that lacks steadiness, but they focus on different aspects. Tremblingly emphasises the physical shaking or vibration itself — a person's hands or legs visibly trembling. Unsteadily is broader and more neutral: it simply means not steady, whether from weakness, imbalance, or lack of practice. Falteringly adds hesitation and loss of momentum — the person pauses, loses confidence, and nearly stops. Precariously shifts the focus from the person to the risk of the situation: something is dangerously close to falling or failing. For a learner describing an elderly person trying to walk after an illness, tremblingly or unsteadily are best; for a business struggling to survive, precariously would fit better.

tremblinglyunsteadily ↗falteringly ↗precariously

Common collocations

Phrases

  • verb + shakily

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Formed by adding the adverb suffix '-ly' to the adjective 'shaky,' which itself comes from the verb 'shake' (Old English 'sceacan,' meaning to move quickly back and forth or tremble) combined with the adjective suffix '-y.' The word has been used since at least the 19th century to describe not only physical trembling but also uncertain situations and weak voices.