[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/shaky/)

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# shaky

adjective (shaky, shakier, shakiest); adverb: shakily

«shaky» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Shaking or trembling, often because of fear, cold, illness or weakness (shaky hands, a shaky voice). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shaky/#m1)
2. Not firm or steady; likely to fall or break (a shaky ladder). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shaky/#m2)
3. Not certain, strong or good (shaky spelling, a shaky start). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shaky/#m3)
4. In some dialects, shaky is used as a verb meaning to shake. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shaky/#m4)

### In the lessons

In everyday life and safety: don't stand on shaky chairs or ladders; a shaky bridge or shelf may collapse. In feelings lessons, a shaky voice or legs show nerves or fear (before a performance). In school, «my times tables are a bit shaky» means not yet secure. In stories it builds tension. Phrases: shaky hands, shaky voice, on shaky ground, a shaky start.

### Examples

- My hands were shaky before I read my poem. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shaky/#x1)
- Don't stand on that shaky chair. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shaky/#x2)
- The old bridge looked shaky, so we didn't cross it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shaky/#x3)
- Her voice was shaky because she was nervous. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shaky/#x4)
- My division is still a bit shaky. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shaky/#x5)
- After being ill, Grandpa's legs felt shaky. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shaky/#x6)
- The team had a shaky start but won the game. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shaky/#x7)

### Note

Comparative: shakier, shakiest (y → i). From the verb «shake». «On shaky ground» = not sure, could be wrong.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «shaky» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shaky/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«shaky» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/shaky.html) on Mova free.