NYT Dictionary

QUAKE

/kweɪk/
NounVerbKWAYKGrade 6

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2026

Meaning

A trembling or shaking.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

From Middle English quaken, from Old English cwacian (“to quake, tremble, chatter”), from Proto-Germanic *kwakōną (“to shake, quiver, tremble”), itself likely of imitative origin. Related to Old English cweċċan (“to shake, swing, move, vibrate, shake off, give up”) (see quitch), Dutch kwakkelen (“to ail, be ailing”), German Quackelei (“chattering”), Danish kvakle (“to bungle”), Latin vexō (“toss, shake violently, jostle, vex”), Irish bogadh (“a move, movement, shift, change”).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

earthquaketemblorseismquiverpalpitatetremorapoplexybobbobblebounce

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 1 recorded puzzle:

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