itch

1 of 2

verb

ˈich 

itched; itching; itches

intransitive verb

1

a

: to have an itch

her arm itched

b

: to produce an itchy sensation

long underwear that itches

2

: to have a restless desire or hankering for something

were itching to go outside

transitive verb

1

: to cause to itch

2

: vex, irritate

itch

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: an uneasy irritating sensation in the upper surface of the skin usually held to result from mild stimulation of pain receptors

b

: a skin disorder accompanied by such a sensation

especially : a contagious eruption caused by a mite (Sarcoptes scabiei) that burrows in the skin and causes intense itching

2

a

: a restless usually constant often compulsive desire

an itch to travel

b

: lust, prurience

itchiness

ˈi-chē-nəs 

noun

itchy

ˈi-chē 

adjective

Synonyms

Verb

• aggravate
• annoy
• bother
• bug
• burn (up)
• chafe
• eat
• exasperate
• frost
• gall
• get
• grate
• gripe
• hack (off)
• irk
• irritate
• nark [British]
• nettle
• peeve
• persecute
• pique
• put out
• rasp
• rile
• ruffle
• spite
• vex

Noun

• concupiscence
• desire
• eroticism
• horniness
• hots
• lech
• letch
• libidinousness
• lust
• lustfulness
• lustihood
• passion
• salaciousness

Examples of itch in a Sentence

Verb

His eyes began to burn and itch because of his allergies.

This sweater makes me itch.

Noun

I had a slight itch on my back.

Scratching only makes the itch worse.

She's always had an itch for adventure.

He has an itch to travel.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Everyone is itching for the game in Green Bay, where the winner will own first place in the NFC North halfway through this memorable campaign. —David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024

Most governments aren’t itching to be the first in the nation to allow people to consume both in one public setting. —Rowan Briggs, The Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2024

Noun

Space travel is an itch that the United States, under any president, seems unable to resist scratching. —Marina Koren, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024

But these are, arguably, some of the best in the country and worth a visit to scratch any itch for retail therapy. —Joey Skladany, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English icchen, from Old English giccan; akin to Old High German jucchen to itch

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing itch

• jock itch
• scratch the/an itch
• scratch the/that itch
• swimmer's itch

Kids Definition

itch

1 of 2 verb

ˈich 

1

: to have or produce an itch

2

: to cause to itch

3

: to have a strong desire

itching to get going

itch

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: an uneasy irritating feeling in the skin usually held to result from exciting cells or groups of cells which sense pain

b

: a skin disorder accompanied by an itch

especially : scabies

2

: a restless usually constant desire

itchiness

ˈich-ē-nəs 

noun

itchy

-ē 

adjective

Medical Definition

itch

noun

ˈich 

1

: an uneasy irritating sensation in the upper surface of the skin usually held to result from mild stimulation of pain receptors

2

: a skin disorder accompanied by an itch

especially : a contagious eruption caused by an itch mite of the genus Sarcoptes (S. scabiei) that burrows in the skin and causes intense itching

itch verb

itchiness

ˈich-ē-nəs 

noun

itchy

-ē 

adjective