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adj Uncommon

itchy

IHT-shee

Itchy (adj) means causing or feeling an urge to scratch. Example: “The wool sweater felt itchy against her skin.”

adj
1
Causing or feeling an urge to scratch.
"The wool sweater felt itchy against her skin."
"His eyes were red and itchy from the pollen."
2
Restless or impatient, eager for action.
"He was getting itchy after sitting through the long meeting."

How to use itchy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething that makes you want to scratch, or a feeling of restless impatience.

Common pairings
itchy skin itchy trigger finger feel itchy

Word forms

itchier comparative, itchiest superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The wool sweater felt _____ against her skin.

Etymology

From Middle English *yicchy, *ȝicchi, from Old English ġiċċiġ (“itchy”), equivalent to itch + -y. Cognate with Scots yeukie (“itchy”), West Frisian jokkerich (“itchy”), Dutch jeukachtig and jeukerig (“itchy”).

Origin: Middle English

Rhymes for itchy

See all rhymes for itchy →

Frequently asked questions

What does “itchy” mean?

The word “itchy” means causing or feeling an urge to scratch. In plain terms, something that makes you want to scratch, or a feeling of restless impatience.

How do you pronounce “itchy”?

“Itchy” is pronounced IHT-shee (/ˈɪt͡ʃi/ in IPA).

How do you use “itchy” in a sentence?

Here is “itchy” used in a sentence: “The wool sweater felt itchy against her skin.”

What part of speech is “itchy”?

“Itchy” is an adjective.

Is “itchy” a common word?

“Itchy” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “itchy” have?

“Itchy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: causing or feeling an urge to scratch.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial · etymology from Wiktionary