itch
Americanverb (used without object)
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itches,
present (3rd person singular)
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itched,
past participle, past
-
itching
present participle
-
to have or feel a peculiar tingling or uneasy irritation of the skin that causes a desire to scratch the part affected.
My nose itches.
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to cause such a feeling.
This shirt itches.
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Informal. to scratch a part that itches.
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to have a desire to do or get something.
to itch after fame.
verb (used with object)
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itches,
present (3rd person singular)
-
itched,
past participle, past
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itching
present participle
noun
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itches
plural
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the sensation of itching.
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an uneasy or restless desire or longing.
an itch for excitement.
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Usually the itch a contagious disease caused by the itch mite, which burrows into the skin.
noun
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an irritation or tickling sensation of the skin causing a desire to scratch
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a restless desire
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any skin disorder, such as scabies, characterized by intense itching
verb
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(intr) to feel or produce an irritating or tickling sensation
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(intr) to have a restless desire (to do something)
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not_standard to scratch (the skin)
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a grasping nature; avarice
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to be restless; have a desire to travel
Usage
What’s the difference between itch and scratch? An itch is a feeling of irritation on the skin, often one that makes you want to scratch it (scrape it or rub it). The word itch can also be used as a verb meaning to have this sensation (as in My leg itches) or to cause to itch (as in The tag on my shirt keeps itching me). Itch also has some more figurative meanings as both a noun and a verb. The reason you looked this up, though, is because itch is sometimes informally used to mean the same thing as scratch, as in Try not to itch your mosquito bites—it will only make them itchier! Language purists are often itching to clarify that you scratch an itch, but this verb use of itch is quite common. As a noun, the word scratch means something different—a cut or scrape, typically a minor one caused by something having scratched the skin, as in I got a few scratches from the thornbush. Here’s an example of itch and scratch used correctly in the same sentence. Example: I know your rash itches, but don’t scratch your itch so hard—you’ll leave a scratch on your arm!Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between itch and scratch.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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itchsimple
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itchessimple
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have itchedperfect
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has itchedperfect
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am itchingprogressive
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are itchingprogressive
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is itchingprogressive
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have been itchingperfect progressive
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has been itchingperfect progressive
Past
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itchedsimple
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had itchedperfect
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was itchingprogressive
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were itchingprogressive
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had been itchingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of itch
First recorded before 900; Middle English verb (y)icchen, Old English gicc(e)an; akin to German jucken, Dutch jeuken; noun derivative of the verb
Explanation
An itch is an unpleasant tingly sensation that makes you want to scratch. If you're allergic to poison ivy and you go hiking through a field of it, you'll have a terrible itch all over your legs. Sometimes people confuse itch and scratch. An itch is the sensation that causes you to scratch, and when itch is a verb, it either means "to feel or sense an itch," or "to have a strong, restless urge," as when you itch to try out your uncle's motorcycle. Somehow, the word itch arose from its Old English root gicce, or gycce, "an itch."
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.
See Examples For:
To scratch that fully voyeuristic itch, we often have to wait for merger and dealmaker principals to talk for themselves: the sit-down broadcast interviews; the expansive anecdotes from a panel stage.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026
She wasn't able to watch the game in person, but has found other ways to scratch her O'Canada itch.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
Ella gave herself an imaginary budget of £1,000 each day to spend on imaginary purchases, which "scratched the itch" of shopping without the cost.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
Though he closely follows the Grand Slams, checks weekly tournament results and runs his academy, he no longer feels the itch to compete.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
She made her own soap and insisted on giving me a bar from time to time, “to take the itch out.”
From "Beyond the Bright Sea" by Lauren Wolk
It’s not just the lack of discovery, though that is critical, maybe because it scratches those deep primal hunter/gatherer itches.
From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2026
His first film in 12 years itches to confront today’s moral limits.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026
ETFs scratch other itches too, including tax avoidance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
Sometimes, itches can tell us something important: Brian S. Kim, a professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai, likens it to a barometer, as it tells people that they’re not well in a very subtle way.
From Slate ● Sep. 23, 2023
“But it aches and itches and sometimes it hops on its own.”
From "Worth" by A. LaFaye
Cosmo itched so much from allergies that he constantly scratched himself raw and unleashed a howl when we were gone for too long, so loud and haunting that my neighbor thought it was a siren.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
He had 28-day-old sutures he contemplated removing himself because they itched so badly.
From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2025
Uncanny Keith had massive, muscular shoulders which prevented it from reaching the back of its own head, where the hair itched and chafed along its annoyingly upright spine.
From Slate ● Aug. 27, 2022
My fingers practically itched as I waved my phone around searching for a signal.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 29, 2022
She itched her ear, and in a not completely believable way, added, “Their mac and cheese is supposed to be killer?”
From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon
Most users who reported shedding also experienced other scalp symptoms, including itching, redness or flaking skin.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026
Whether or not Misty Green leads to even bigger things, Eleazar isn’t itching to move to Hollywood anytime soon, preferring to remain near her family in London.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
“I’m kind of itching to get back going,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2026
Hampered by injury, she only started four times in the Women's Super League - so is itching to get going in the new campaign, which kicks off on Friday, 4 September.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
It was almost worth having to go to school just to see everybody itching and squirming.
From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool
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