shivers

IPA/ˈʃɪv.ər/
KK[ʃˈɪvɚz]IPA/ˈʃɪv.ɚ/

shivers — noun

  • shiverssingular
  • shiversesplural

1. a short, quick shaking movement of your body that you cannot control, caused by

1.nounB1
Definition

a short, quick shaking movement of your body that you cannot control, caused by cold, fear, or a strong emotion

Example

A sudden shiver ran down Mateo's spine when the cold wind hit his wet skin.

shiver ran down [body part], common physical collocation

Adina felt a shiver of excitement as the curtain rose on opening night.

shiver of [emotion], describes positive anticipation

Common collocations
  • feel a shiver
  • send a shiver
  • a shiver runs down [body part]
  • shiver of excitement/fear/pleasure
Synonyms
  • tremor

    more medical or formal; a slight shaking that can be ongoing rather than a single event

  • shudder

    stronger and more violent than a shiver; often from disgust or horror

Grammar Patterns

a shiver

shiver of [emotion]

Usage Note

This sense is countable and describes a single moment of shaking. For the uncountable condition of repeated shivering caused by illness, see sense 2.

Common Mistakes

I have a shiver.' (meaning an illness).
I have the shivers.
When talking about an illness with repeated shaking, use the plural form with 'the'.

2. a physical condition in which your body shakes repeatedly, usually because you h

2.nounB2
Definition

a physical condition in which your body shakes repeatedly, usually because you have a fever, a cold, or an infection

Example

Faisal stayed home from school because he had the shivers and a high fever.

have the shivers, illness context

The nurse said the shivers were a normal reaction to the infection and would pass soon.

Common collocations
  • have the shivers
  • get the shivers
  • catch the shivers
  • the shivers pass
  • the shivers go away
Synonyms
  • chills

    more common in medical English; often used in 'fever and chills'

  • rigor

    formal medical term for severe shivering during a fever

Grammar Patterns

have the shivers

get the shivers

the shivers pass

Usage Note

Use this sense when the focus is on being sick. The phrase 'have/get/catch the shivers' is similar to 'have the chills'. Do not use a number ('three shivers') — this sense is uncountable even though it takes a plural form.

Common Mistakes

I am having the shivers because I am scared.
A shiver ran through me because I was scared.
For a single moment of fear, use sense 1. For illness-related repeated shaking, use sense 2.

3. a strong uncomfortable feeling of fear, disgust, or unease, especially in reacti

3.nounB1
Definition

a strong uncomfortable feeling of fear, disgust, or unease, especially in reaction to something strange, creepy, or unpleasant

Example

The old abandoned hospital gave Jude the shivers every time he walked past it.

give [someone] the shivers, fixed phrase for creepiness

Something about the stranger's quiet laugh sent shivers down Lien's spine.

send shivers down [someone's] spine, common fixed expression

Common collocations
  • give someone the shivers
  • send shivers down [body part]
  • the shivers run down [body part]
Synonyms
  • creeps

    informal, very similar meaning: 'that gives me the creeps'

  • heebie-jeebies

    very informal, humorous term for a nervous or frightened feeling

  • chill

    used in 'send a chill down someone's spine', similar to 'send shivers'

Grammar Patterns

give someone the shivers

send shivers down someone's spine

Usage Note

Common in fixed phrases: 'give someone the shivers' and 'send shivers down someone's spine'. Unlike sense 1, this sense is not about a physical shaking movement — it describes an emotional reaction of being creeped out or disturbed.

Common Mistakes

That movie gave me the shivers of fear.
That movie gave me the shivers.
The phrase 'give someone the shivers' is already complete; do not add extra explanation like 'of fear'.

shivers — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All five words describe involuntary body movements, but they differ in cause and intensity. 'Shiver' is the most specific — it almost always relates to cold, fear, or illness, and it describes a repeated, rapid shaking. 'Tremble' is slightly more formal and often suggests emotional causes such as fear, nervousness, or weakness rather than physical cold. 'Shake' is the most general word; you can shake from laughter, anger, cold, or fear, and it works for larger movements of the whole body. 'Quiver' describes a light, delicate, almost vibrating motion — commonly used for lips, voices, or leaves in the wind. 'Shudder' is the strongest and most dramatic — a single, violent shake of the whole body, often from disgust, horror, or a sudden chill. For example: 'She shivered in the freezing wind.' 'His voice quivered with emotion.' 'He shuddered at the sight of the spider.'

shiver ↗tremble ↗shake ↗quivershudder ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Prepositions

Etymology

Middle EnglishEnglish

The word 'shiver' comes from Middle English 'schiveren', meaning to tremble or shake. Its origins are uncertain, but it may be related to an Old English word for 'jaw' or 'chin' — because your jaw chatters when you are very cold. The noun form developed from the verb in the 1700s. The meaning of broken fragments ('shiver' as in 'shatter') comes from a different, unrelated word.

First known use

13th century

13th century, in the meaning defined above Verb (1)