itch
verb (used without object)
to have or feel a peculiar tingling or uneasy irritation of the skin that causes a desire to scratch the part affected.
had been itching
-
past perfect progressiveof itch.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
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.
But despite his nautical ambitions, Tortorella had been itching to get back behind the bench.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026
The apple grated into the sauce, tiny threads of sweetness weaving through the fat and squash—something I had been itching to try since watching Netflix’s “Nonnas.”
From Salon ● Nov. 18, 2025
The House of Mouse owned a majority stake in the junior streamer, but Comcast retained a 33 percent share, and Disney had been itching for full control over the app for years.
From Slate ● Aug. 7, 2025
Mollen said her head had been itching for about two weeks at that point.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 15, 2024
They had been itching to get under way ever since they had disembarked; the sledges were packed, the dog teams were in their traces.
From "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman
