vibrate

/vaɪˈbreɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈvaɪbreɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈvī-ˌbrāt especially British vī-ˈbrāt/ (ame, mw) · /ˈvaɪ.breɪt/ (ame, ipa)

vibrate — verb

  • vibratepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • vibrateshe / she / it
  • vibratedpast simple
  • vibrating-ing form

1. to move or make something move with small, fast, back-and-forth movements that y

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

to move or make something move with small, fast, back-and-forth movements that you can feel — for example, a phone buzzing on a table, or a window shaking when a truck passes

例句

Theo's phone vibrated on the wooden desk as a message arrived.

intransitive use with concrete subject

When the train passed, the windows vibrated noisily in their frames.

intransitive + adverb of manner

同義詞
  • shake

    more general, can describe larger or more forceful movements

  • quiver

    very small, fast movements, often from cold or nervousness

  • tremble

    suggests shaking from fear, weakness, or cold, often about people

反義詞

文法句型

vibrate [intransitive]

vibrate + object

make + object + vibrate

用法筆記

Frequently used with phones, machines, windows, and musical instruments as subjects. The transitive form (vibrate + object) is less common than the intransitive form but is natural when describing a machine that makes something shake.

常見錯誤

❌The phone vibrated on my hand.
✅The phone vibrated in my hand.
💡A phone you are holding is in your hand, not on it.
❌The earthquake vibrated the whole city.
✅The earthquake shook the whole city.
💡Violent shaking uses 'shake,' not 'vibrate,' which describes smaller, faster movements.

2. to make a sound by shaking very fast in a regular way — for example, a guitar st

2.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to make a sound by shaking very fast in a regular way — for example, a guitar string or a singer's vocal cords when they produce a clear note

例句

A guitar string vibrates when you pluck it, producing a musical tone.

process description: when-clause + main clause

Kenji's deep voice vibrated through the quiet hallway as he began to sing.

vibrate through + location (sound propagation)

同義詞
  • resonate

    more technical, suggests a deep or rich sound that continues

  • ring

    suggests a clear, high-pitched sound, often after being struck

文法句型

vibrate [intransitive]

vibrate through + place

用法筆記

The subject is usually a physical object (string, vocal cord, column of air) that produces sound through rapid movement. The thing that hears the sound is expressed as the object of a perception verb (hear, feel).

常見錯誤

❌The singer vibrated her voice to hit the high note.
✅The singer's voice vibrated as she hit the high note.
💡The voice vibrates by itself; we do not use 'vibrate' transitively for voice production.

3. to keep changing between two different opinions, choices, or courses of action w

3.動詞不及物C1
釋義

to keep changing between two different opinions, choices, or courses of action without settling on one

例句

Between studying medicine and pursuing art, Elena vibrated for weeks before deciding.

between X and Y (two alternatives pattern)

The committee vibrated between approval and rejection of the proposed budget.

同義詞
  • waver

    more common in everyday speech, same meaning

  • vacillate

    formal, suggests repeated back-and-forth movement between positions

  • hesitate

    focuses on the pause before deciding, not the back-and-forth

反義詞
  • decide

    to settle on one option

  • commit

    to firmly choose one course of action

文法句型

vibrate between + noun + and + noun

用法筆記

This sense is formal and literary. In everyday conversation, speakers use 'waver,' 'go back and forth,' or 'be undecided' instead. The object is always two alternatives joined by 'between...and...'

常見錯誤

❌I vibrated about which shirt to buy.
✅I went back and forth about which shirt to buy.
💡This literary sense sounds unnatural in casual, trivial situations.

4. to be filled with a sudden, strong feeling such as excitement, joy, nervousness,

4.動詞不及物C1
釋義

to be filled with a sudden, strong feeling such as excitement, joy, nervousness, or sympathy

例句

The audience vibrated with excitement as the musician stepped onto the stage.

vibrate with + emotion noun (core pattern)

Liam's voice vibrated with barely controlled anger during the argument.

同義詞
  • thrill

    suggests a pleasant, exciting feeling, can be used as a verb ('She thrilled at the news')

  • quiver

    suggests a physical trembling from emotion, more common than vibrate for this meaning

文法句型

vibrate with + emotion noun

用法筆記

Always followed by 'with' + an abstract emotion noun (excitement, joy, anger, tension, sympathy). This is a literary sense; in everyday speech, use 'quiver with,' 'tingle with,' or simply 'feel.'

常見錯誤

❌She vibrated with happiness after winning.
✅She was thrilled after winning.
💡Using 'vibrate' for personal emotion feels overly literary in casual conversation.

vibrate — noun