itch

[ ich ]

verb (used without object)

1. 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.

2. to cause such a feeling:

   This shirt itches.

3. Informal. to scratch a part that itches.
4. to have a desire to do or get something:

   to itch after fame.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to have an itch:

   His wool shirt always itches him.

2. Informal. to scratch (a part that itches):

   to itch a mosquito bite.

3. to annoy; vex; irritate:

   Her remarks itched me.

noun

1. the sensation of itching.
2. an uneasy or restless desire or longing:

   an itch for excitement.

3. Usually the itch. a contagious disease caused by the itch mite, which burrows into the skin. Compare mange, scabies.

itch

/ ɪtʃ /

noun

1. an irritation or tickling sensation of the skin causing a desire to scratch
2. a restless desire
3. any skin disorder, such as scabies, characterized by intense itching

verb

1. intr to feel or produce an irritating or tickling sensation
2. intr to have a restless desire (to do something)
3. not_standard.
   to scratch (the skin)
4. itching palm
   itching palm a grasping nature; avarice
5. have itchy feet
   have itchy feet to be restless; have a desire to travel

Derived Forms

• ˈitchy, adjective
• ˈitchiness, noun

Other Words From

• anti-itch adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of itch¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of itch¹

Old English gīccean to itch, of Germanic origin

Example Sentences

If you’re the type of person who posts aggressive fitness memes about “just getting in there and doing it,” this likely won’t scratch the itch.

From Popular-Science

Our evp of engineering —who has been in the company for many years — just got an itch to redo his webcam setup, and he wanted to get a mirrorless camera.

From Digiday

In my experience, while it doesn’t make the bites or itching go away entirely, it does offer instant itch relief that lasts for about six to twelve hours.

From Outside Online

When I’m out, get bit, and my bites begin to bother me again, I simply re-suction them and the itch disappears once more.

From Outside Online

You get to scratch the itch, but you don’t have to deal with the things that you felt uncomfortable with either at the beginning or the end of these interactions.

From Freakonomics

“You try to always scratch where the itch is,” Huckabee said about his campaigning and rhetoric in the 2008 primary.

From The Daily Beast

That seems to be the modus operandi as The League moves closer to the seven-year itch.

From The Daily Beast

An artist creates art to plug a hole in the universe, to scratch some aesthetic itch.

From The Daily Beast

Like most societies with a competitive itch, Brazilians love prizes.

From The Daily Beast

Inside the itch, extreme weather—both flooding and drought—seem to be intensifying.

From The Daily Beast

The itch-mite (Acarus scabiei) and the louse (Pediculus capitis, corporis, vel pubis) are the more common members of the group.

From Project Gutenberg

Johnny the Itch pulled nervously at the wide-brimmed fedora jerked down on his bony skull.

From Project Gutenberg

Johnny the Itch fingered away sweat that rolled down from under his fedora and nodded obediently.

From Project Gutenberg

It made the skin jerk and pull as if he were trying to get rid of an itch without using his hand.

From Project Gutenberg

They scoured every main artery and side road and cart track for miles in every direction, he and Johnny the Itch.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ache
• crave
• hanker
• thirst
• yearn

Itch Vs. Scratch

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. 

Quiz yourself on itch vs. scratch!

Should itch or scratch be used in the following sentence?

This new lotion makes me _____—I hope I’m not allergic to it.