Shake vs. Shiver — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 8, 2024
Shaking is a rapid, often forceful movement, voluntary or involuntary, while shivering is an involuntary trembling, typically due to cold or fear.
Difference Between Shake and Shiver
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Shaking refers to a broad range of rapid movements that can be either voluntary, such as shaking one’s head, or involuntary, like shaking due to nervousness. It encompasses a wide spectrum of causes and intensities, from the physical exertion of shaking a bottle to the uncontrollable tremors associated with emotional stress or medical conditions. Shivering, however, is a specific type of involuntary trembling or quivering, usually triggered by the body's response to cold in an attempt to generate heat and maintain body temperature. It can also occur as a reaction to fear, excitement, or other intense emotions.
While both shaking and shivering involve rapid movements, the context and reasons behind them often differ significantly. Shaking can be a deliberate act or an uncontrollable response, serving various purposes or indicating different states of being, from excitement to agitation or illness. On the other hand, shivering is almost always involuntary, serving a physiological function related to thermoregulation or being a natural response to emotional states.
In terms of physical mechanism, shaking can engage various muscles and parts of the body in a less uniform manner than shivering. When someone is shaking, it might involve entire limbs or the whole body, and the movement can vary in speed and amplitude. Shivering tends to be more uniform, with rapid, tiny tremors spreading across the body, particularly visible in the torso and limbs, as a way to create warmth through muscle activity.
The perception of shaking versus shivering can also vary. Shaking might be seen as a sign of effort, fear, or illness, depending on the context, while shivering is more narrowly associated with attempts to warm up or react to a sudden fright. This difference in perception influences how individuals respond to seeing someone else shake or shiver, potentially eliciting concern, comfort, or misunderstanding.
The duration and control over these actions differ. Shaking can last for a variable amount of time and might be stopped at will if it’s voluntary or with difficulty if it’s involuntary. Shivering usually continues as long as the body is exposed to cold or the emotional trigger persists, and it’s difficult to control without changing the external conditions or calming the emotional state.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Rapid movement, voluntary or involuntary
Involuntary trembling, typically from cold or fear
Causes
Broad, including emotion, effort, or medical conditions
Primarily cold, fear, or emotional states
Voluntariness
Can be both
Involuntary
Function
Varied, no specific physiological function
Thermoregulation or emotional response
Perception
Depends on context; can indicate effort or distress
Associated with cold or fright
Control
Voluntary shaking can be stopped; involuntary may not
Difficult to control directly
Compare with Definitions
Shake
Movement can be controlled.
She shook her head in disagreement.
Shiver
Response to cold.
She shivered as she stepped out into the snow.
Shake
Indicates various emotions.
His hands shook with excitement.
Shiver
Involuntary reaction.
He began to shiver uncontrollably in the freezing water.
Shake
Can be due to physical effort.
Shaking the bottle vigorously, she prepared the mixture.
Shiver
Associated with fear.
The scary movie made her shiver with fear.
Shake
Associated with different contexts.
The earthquake made the whole house shake.
Shiver
Aims to generate body heat.
Shivering, they huddled together for warmth.
Shake
Sometimes a symptom of illness.
The fever caused him to shake uncontrollably.
Shiver
Reflects emotional states.
The touching moment made her shiver with emotion.
Shake
(of a structure or area of land) tremble or vibrate
Buildings shook in Sacramento and tremors were felt in Reno
Shiver
To shake or tremble, as from cold or fear.
Shake
Move (an object) up and down or from side to side with rapid, forceful, jerky movements
She stood in the hall and shook her umbrella
Shiver
To quiver or vibrate, as by the force of the wind.
Shake
Upset the composure or confidence of; shock or astonish
The boy was visibly shaken
Rumours of a further loss shook the market
Shiver
To cause (a sail) to flutter by sailing too close to the wind.
Shake
An act of shaking
She gave her red curls a vehement shake
Shiver
To break into fragments or splinters; shatter.
Shake
A fit of trembling or shivering
I wouldn't go in there, it gives me the shakes
Shiver
To cause to break suddenly into fragments or splinters.
Shake
Short for milkshake
Shiver
An instance of shivering or trembling.
Shake
An earth tremor.
Shiver
Shivers An attack of shivering. Used with the.
Shake
A trill.
Shiver
A fragment or splinter.
Shake
A kind of rough wooden shingle, used especially on rustic buildings
Cedar shakes
Shiver
To tremble or shake, especially when cold or frightened.
They stood outside for hours, shivering in the frosty air.
Shake
To cause to move from side to side or up and down with jerky movements
I shook the juice container.
Shiver
To cause to shake or tremble, as a sail, by steering close to the wind.
Shake
To cause to tremble, vibrate, or rock
The earthquake shook the ground. The wind shook the barley.
Shiver
To break into splinters or fragments.
Shake
To brandish or wave, especially in anger
Shake one's fist.
Shiver
The act of shivering.
A shiver went up my spine.
Shake
To cause to lose stability or strength, as of conviction
A crisis that has shaken my deepest beliefs.
Shiver
(medicine) A bodily response to early hypothermia.Wp
Shake
To disturb or agitate emotionally; upset or unnerve
She was shaken by the news of the disaster.
Shiver
A fragment or splinter, especially of glass or stone.
Shake
To remove or dislodge by jerky movements
Shook the dust from the cushions.
Shiver
A thin slice; a shive.
Shake
To scatter or strew by jerky movements
Shook the salt on the popcorn.
Shiver
(geology) A variety of blue slate.
Shake
To get rid of or put an end to
Could not shake the feeling that things would not work out.
Wanted to shake his habit of snacking.
Shiver
(nautical) A sheave or small wheel in a pulley.
Shake
To get away from (a pursuer)
Couldn't shake the man who was following us.
Shiver
A small wedge, as for fastening the bolt of a window shutter.
Shake
To bring to a specified condition by or as if by shaking
"It is not easy to shake one's heart free of the impression" (John Middleton Murry).
Shiver
A spindle.
Shake
To clasp (hands) in greeting or leave-taking or as a sign of agreement.
Shiver
Collective noun for a group of sharks
Shake
(Music) To trill (a note).
Shiver
One of the small pieces, or splinters, into which a brittle thing is broken by sudden violence; - generally used in the plural.
Shake
(Games) To rattle and mix (dice) before casting.
Shiver
A thin slice; a shive.
Of your soft bread, not but a shiver.
Shake
To move from side to side or up and down in short, irregular, often jerky movements
The trees shook in the wind.
Shiver
A variety of blue slate.
Shake
To move something vigorously up and down or from side to side, as in mixing.
Shiver
A sheave or small wheel in a pulley.
Shake
To tremble, as from cold or in anger.
Shiver
A small wedge, as for fastening the bolt of a window shutter.
Shake
To be unsteady; totter or waver.
Shiver
A spindle.
Shake
(Music) To trill.
Shiver
The act of shivering or trembling.
Shake
To shake hands
Let's shake on it.
Shiver
To break into many small pieces, or splinters; to shatter; to dash to pieces by a blow; as, to shiver a glass goblet.
All the groundWith shivered armor strown.
Shake
The act of shaking
Gave the bottle a shake.
Shiver
To separate suddenly into many small pieces or parts; to be shattered.
There shiver shafts upon shields thick.
The natural world, should gravity once cease, . . . would instantly shiver into millions of atoms.
Shake
A trembling or quivering movement.
Shiver
To tremble; to vibrate; to quiver; to shake, as from cold or fear.
Prometheus is laidOn icy Caucasus to shiver.
The man that shivered on the brink of sin,Thus steeled and hardened, ventures boldly in.
Shake
(Informal) An earthquake.
Shiver
To cause to shake or tremble, as a sail, by steering close to the wind.
Shake
A fissure in rock.
Shiver
Reflex shaking caused by cold or fear or excitement
Shake
A crack in timber caused by wind or frost.
Shiver
An almost pleasurable sensation of fright;
A frisson of surprise shot through him
Shake
(Informal) A moment or instant
I'll do it in a shake.
Shiver
Tremble convulsively, as from fear or excitement
Shake
(Music) A trill.
Shiver
Shake, as from cold;
The children are shivering--turn on the heat!
Shake
See milkshake.
Shake
A beverage in which the ingredients are mixed by shaking.
Shake
A rough shingle used to cover rustic buildings, such as barns
Cedar shakes.
Shake
Shakes(Informal) Uncontrollable trembling, as in a person who is cold, frightened, feverish, or ill. Often used with the
Was suffering from a bad case of the shakes.
Shake
(Informal) A bargain or deal
Getting a fair shake.
Shake
To cause (something) to move rapidly in opposite directions alternatingly.
The earthquake shook the building.
He shook the can of soda for thirty seconds before delivering it to me, so that, when I popped it open, soda went everywhere.
Shake
(transitive) To move (one's head) from side to side, especially to indicate refusal, reluctance, or disapproval.
Shaking his head, he kept repeating “No, no, no”.
Shake
(transitive) To move or remove by agitating; to throw off by a jolting or vibrating motion.
To shake fruit down from a tree
Shake
(transitive) To disturb emotionally; to shock.
Her father’s death shook her terribly.
He was shaken by what had happened.
Shake
(transitive) To lose, evade, or get rid of (something).
I can’t shake the feeling that I forgot something.
Shake
(intransitive) To move from side to side.
She shook with grief.
Shake
To shake hands.
OK, let’s shake on it.
Shake
(intransitive) To dance.
She was shaking it on the dance floor.
Shake
To give a tremulous tone to; to trill.
To shake a note in music
Shake
To threaten to overthrow.
The experience shook my religious belief.
Shake
To be agitated; to lose firmness.
Shake
The act of shaking or being shaken; tremulous or back-and-forth motion.
The cat gave the mouse a shake.
She replied in the negative, with a shake of her head.
Shake
A twitch, a spasm, a tremor.
Shake
A milkshake.
Shake
A beverage made by adding ice cream to a (usually carbonated) drink; a float.
Shake
Shake cannabis, small, leafy fragments of cannabis that gather at the bottom of a bag of marijuana.
Shake
An adulterant added to cocaine powder.
Shake
(building material) A thin shingle.
Shake
A crack or split between the growth rings in wood.
Shake
A fissure in rock or earth.
Shake
A basic wooden shingle made from split logs, traditionally used for roofing etc.
Shake
(informal) Instant, second. (Especially in two shakes.)
Shake
(nautical) One of the staves of a hogshead or barrel taken apart.
Shake
(music) A rapid alternation of a principal tone with another represented on the next degree of the staff above or below it; a trill.
Shake
(music) In singing, notes (usually high ones) sung vibrato.
Shake
A shook of staves and headings.
Shake
The redshank, so called from the nodding of its head while on the ground.
Shake
A shock or disturbance.
Shake
To cause to move with quick or violent vibrations; to move rapidly one way and the other; to make to tremble or shiver; to agitate.
As a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
Ascend my chariot; guide the rapid wheelsThat shake heaven's basis.
Shake
Fig.: To move from firmness; to weaken the stability of; to cause to waver; to impair the resolution of.
When his doctrines grew too strong to be shook by his enemies, they persecuted his reputation.
Thy equal fear that my firm faith and loveCan by his fraud be shaken or seduced.
Shake
To give a tremulous tone to; to trill; as, to shake a note in music.
Shake
To move or remove by agitating; to throw off by a jolting or vibrating motion; to rid one's self of; - generally with an adverb, as off, out, etc.; as, to shake fruit down from a tree.
Shake off the golden slumber of repose.
'Tis our fast intentTo shake all cares and business from our age.
I could scarcely shake him out of my company.
Shake
To be agitated with a waving or vibratory motion; to tremble; to shiver; to quake; to totter.
Under his burning wheelsThe steadfast empyrean shook throughout,All but the throne itself of God.
What danger? Who 's that that shakes behind there?
Shake
The act or result of shaking; a vacillating or wavering motion; a rapid motion one way and other; a trembling, quaking, or shivering; agitation.
The great soldier's honor was composedOf thicker stuff, which could endure a shake.
Our salutations were very hearty on both sides, consisting of many kind shakes of the hand.
Shake
A fissure or crack in timber, caused by its being dried too suddenly.
Shake
A fissure in rock or earth.
Shake
A rapid alternation of a principal tone with another represented on the next degree of the staff above or below it; a trill.
Shake
One of the staves of a hogshead or barrel taken apart.
Shake
A shook of staves and headings.
Shake
The redshank; - so called from the nodding of its head while on the ground.
Shake
Building material used as siding or roofing
Shake
Frothy drink of milk and flavoring and sometimes fruit or ice cream
Shake
A note that alternates rapidly with another note a semitone above it
Shake
Grasping and shaking a person's hand (as to acknowledge an introduction or to agree on a contract)
Shake
Reflex shaking caused by cold or fear or excitement
Shake
Causing to move repeatedly from side to side
Shake
Move or cause to move back and forth;
The chemist shook the flask vigorously
My hands were shaking
Shake
Move with or as if with a tremor;
His hands shook
Shake
Shake or vibrate rapidly and intensively;
The old engine was juddering
Shake
Move back and forth or sideways;
The ship was rocking
The tall building swayed
She rocked back and forth on her feet
Shake
Undermine or cause to waver;
My faith has been shaken
The bad news shook her hopes
Shake
Stir the feelings, emotions, or peace of;
These stories shook the community
The civil war shook the country
Shake
Get rid of;
I couldn't shake the car that was following me
Shake
Bring to a specified condition by or as if by shaking;
He was shaken from his dreams
Shake the salt out of the salt shaker
Shake
Shake (a body part) to communicate a greeting, feeling, or cognitive state;
Shake one's head
She shook her finger at the naughty students
The old enemies shook hands
Don't shake your fist at me!
Common Curiosities
What causes involuntary shaking?
Involuntary shaking can be caused by a range of factors, including emotional stress, cold, fear, or medical conditions like Parkinson’s disease.
Is shivering always due to being cold?
While often a response to cold, shivering can also result from fear, excitement, or other intense emotions.
How can you stop shaking or shivering?
Addressing the underlying cause, such as warming up or calming down, can help stop shaking or shivering.
What distinguishes shaking from shivering in terms of movement?
Shaking can involve larger, more varied movements, while shivering consists of rapid, fine tremors.
Why do people shiver?
People shiver as a natural response to cold, helping generate body heat, or due to emotional reactions like fear.
Can shaking be voluntary?
Yes, shaking can be a voluntary action, such as when shaking a container or gesturing.
Is it normal to shiver when not cold?
Yes, it can be a reaction to intense emotions or certain physiological conditions.
Can anxiety cause shaking or shivering?
Yes, anxiety can trigger both shaking and shivering as part of the body's response to stress.
Are there long-term effects of frequent shaking or shivering?
Frequent involuntary shaking might indicate an underlying medical issue needing treatment; shivering primarily has short-term effects.
How do doctors differentiate between shaking and shivering in patients?
Doctors consider the context, symptoms, and triggers to differentiate, assessing whether it's a response to cold, emotional states, or a symptom of another condition.
Is shaking a reliable indicator of illness?
It can be, especially if it's involuntary and persistent, indicating it's wise to consult a healthcare provider.
How does the body benefit from shivering?
Shivering increases muscle activity, generating heat to raise body temperature under cold conditions.
What is the significance of shaking in social contexts?
Shaking can signify nervousness, excitement, or effort, affecting how others perceive and respond to the individual.
Can lifestyle changes reduce shaking?
For shaking caused by stress or anxiety, lifestyle changes that promote relaxation and stress management can be beneficial.
Can animals shiver and shake?
Yes, animals can both shiver and shake, often for reasons similar to humans, such as cold, fear, or to remove excess water from their fur.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
