fidget
verb (used without object)
to move about restlessly, nervously, or impatiently.
fidgeting
-
present participleof fidget.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In the studio and in meetings, Shulman has the restless energy of a kid—pacing around a room or fidgeting with a piano keyboard or bass guitar—combined with the intellectual affect of a quant.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 28, 2026
Newby, who was being treated for a chest infection at the time, said he approached Farooq outside the maternity ward after spotting him fidgeting and looking anxious.
From BBC ● Mar. 24, 2026
They can take four minutes on the answer, and people are now fidgeting in the crowd.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2025
"Some people might get really annoyed by fidgeting or repetitive movements but it doesn't impact massively on day-to-day life," she says.
From BBC ● Dec. 12, 2024
If this was a movie, I thought, looking pleasantly into the pleasant beefy face of the policeman—if this was a movie, we’d all be fidgeting and acting really suspicious.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
