- present participle of itch.
itching
Americanadjective
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of, relating to, or characterized by an irritating sensation of the skin.
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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.
Itching to leap from employee to entrepreneur, he warned his wife that a flop might mean no more private schooling for their children.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 15, 2026
Itching for a robust little set-to, they rode around waving the California Republic’s Bear Flag — which by then was a states’ rights symbol.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2024
Itching to buy the latest iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone Pro Max?
From BBC • Nov. 6, 2022
“The Itching Palm,” a century ago, called for some sort of national association to address tipping.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 22, 2022
Itching prickles of agony ran up his legs, and he was afraid to move to restore the circulation.
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
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.
