twitch

1 of 3

verb

ˈtwich 

twitched; twitching; twitches

intransitive verb

1

: to move jerkily : quiver

2

: to undergo a brief spasmodic muscular contraction

his hand twitched

3

: pull, pluck

twitched at my sleeve

transitive verb

: to move or pull with a sudden motion : jerk

twitcher noun

twitch

2 of 3

noun (1)

1

a

: a brief spasmodic contraction of the muscle fibers

b

: a slight jerk of a body part

2

: an act of twitching

especially : a short sudden pull or jerk

3

: a physical or mental pang

a twitch of remorse

4

: a loop of rope or strap that is tightened over a horse's lip as a restraining device

twitchily

ˈtwi-chə-lē 

adverb

twitch

3 of 3

noun (2)

: quack grass

Synonyms

Verb

• fiddle
• fidget
• jerk
• jig
• jiggle
• squiggle
• squirm
• thrash
• thresh
• toss
• twist
• wiggle
• wriggle
• writhe

Examples of twitch in a Sentence

Verb

Her mouth was twitching as she began to cry.

The rabbit twitched its ears.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

When a fish swims by, the snake twitches its neck, a movement so rapid that it can only be captured on high-speed film. —Ryley Graham, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Jan. 2025

In other words, the version of the Democratic Party that got killed in 2024 is still twitching. —Philip Elliott, TIME, 21 Jan. 2025

Noun

The twitch reflexes needed to compete at the highest levels of video game competition start to falter once people hit their thirties. —Issy Van Der Velde, Rolling Stone, 4 Feb. 2025

His skating is excellent, with the quick twitch to get by a lot of NHL defenders. —Corey Pronman, The Athletic, 1 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English twicchen; akin to Old English twiccian to pluck, Old High German gizwickan to pinch

Noun (2)

alteration of quitch

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (1)

circa 1523, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1595, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing twitch

• fast-twitch
• slow-twitch

Kids Definition

twitch

1 of 2 verb

ˈtwich 

1

: to move or pull with a sudden motion : jerk

2

: quiver entry 2

3

: to undergo a brief muscular contraction

his hand twitched

twitch

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act of twitching

2

a

: a brief contraction of muscle fibers

b

: a slight jerk of a body part

twitchy

-ē

adjective

Medical Definition

twitch

1 of 3 intransitive verb

ˈtwich 

: to undergo a brief spasmodic muscular contraction

the muscle twitched

twitch

2 of 3 noun

: a brief spasmodic contraction of muscle fibers

also : a slight jerk of a body part caused by such a contraction

twitch

3 of 3 noun

: quack grass