What does shudder mean?
Word: Shudder
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Shudder means to shake suddenly for a moment because you are cold, scared or disgusted.
Synonyms: shiver, quiver
Word origin: From Middle Dutch.
How do you spell shudder?
Syllables: shud - der
Tricky part: The middle has a double d; one d gives shuder, which is wrong.
Watch out for: shuder, shodder
Memory tip: When you shudder, you shake twice, so the word carries two d's.
Idioms and Phrases
- shudder to think: to not want to imagine something because it worries you Example: "I shudder to think how messy my room will be after the party."
Shudder in a sentence
Example 1: Riya shuddered as the icy wind blew down from the snowy peaks.
Example 2: The washing machine shuddered noisily during the spin cycle.
Example 3: The ground gave a small shudder as the heavy goods train rumbled past.
Fun Fact
Shudder came into English from Middle Dutch around the 1300s, and its German cousin, schaudern, still means to shudder today.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell Spies
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) ladder
b) rudder
c) fodder
d) shuddar
Show answer
d) shuddar. Shudder ends in er, like the other three words here.
Sound Check
In which word is 'u' pronounced differently?
a) mustard
b) bucket
c) pudding
d) shudder
Show answer
c) pudding. In pudding the u sounds like the oo in book; in shudder, mustard and bucket it is the u of cup.
Word Puzzle
Match the words in the two lists:
1. shudder 2. glimmer 3. murmur a. faint light b. tremble c. whisper
a) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
b) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
c) 1-a, 2-b, 3-c
d) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
Show answer
b) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c. To shudder is to tremble, a glimmer is a faint light and a murmur is close to a whisper.
Word Tally
How many words are misspelt in the given sentence?
A cold gust of wind made Mateo shudder as he waited for the school bus at the foggy cornor near the bakary.
a) 2
b) 1
c) 3
d) 0
Show answer
a) 2. Corner and bakery are misspelt; shudder is correct.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. The old bus shuddered to a halt. What did the bus most likely do?
a) turned slowly round a corner
b) flew over a speed bump
c) shook hard as it stopped
d) glided smoothly into the stop
Show answer
c) shook hard as it stopped
2. Which situation would most likely make someone shudder?
a) stepping into an icy river
b) wrapping up in a quilt
c) sipping hot cocoa
d) sitting by a warm fire
Show answer
a) stepping into an icy river
