itching

[ich-ing]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characterized by an irritating sensation of the skin.

2. of, relating to, or having a longing or desire to do or have something.

   An itching public anxiously awaits her announcement.

3. characterized by restlessness or the desire for adventure or activity.

   an itching impulse to travel.

4. characterized by the desire to grasp; grasping; an itching palm open for a bribe.

noun

1. itch.

Other Word Forms

• itchingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of itching¹

before 1000; Middle English ( y ) ichinge, ( y ) itchinge (noun, adj.); replacing Old English giccende (adj.). See itch, -ing ², -ing ¹

Example Sentences

With my phone constantly itching in my pocket, begging to be used, it accompanies me throughout the day: during morning showers for music, afternoon walks to the dining hall, and nighttime wind-downs.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

And while both sides seem to be itching for a fight, there's no telling when, or how, this fight will end.

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Many Democrats are itching for a bigger fight this time around – and funding the government is one of the only places where their party has some leverage.

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Because I know from experience that some of you are frothing, foaming and itching to reach out and tell me that illegal means illegal.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

And just as the Tories profited from that collapse, Reform are itching to capitalise now.

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Related Words

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• weird