- present participle of itch.
itching
Americanadjective
-
of, relating to, or characterized by an irritating sensation of the skin.
-
of, relating to, or having a longing or desire to do or have something.
An itching public anxiously awaits her announcement.
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characterized by restlessness or the desire for adventure or activity.
an itching impulse to travel.
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characterized by the desire to grasp; grasping; an itching palm open for a bribe.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of itching
before 1000; Middle English ( y ) ichinge, ( y ) itchinge (noun, adj.); replacing Old English giccende (adj.). See itch, -ing 2, -ing 1
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.
Thirteen days after Hannah Stephenson stayed a night in a Travelodge hotel, she is still itching with red lumps over her body - a nightmare she would not wish on her "worst enemy".
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
“I’m kind of itching to get back going,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2026
The findings, made in mouse models, reveal a dedicated sensory system that may eventually help scientists develop better treatments for chronic itching disorders.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026
For those itching to upgrade, there are glasses with in-lens displays.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
I liked the idea, too, though, because it meant that some day my turn would come around again, and I was itching to have another chance.
From "Ida B" by Katherine Hannigan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
