- 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.
"It's been difficult. I've had to take a lot of antihistamines, which have made me quite drowsy. I've been waking up in the night itching," she said.
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
But despite his nautical ambitions, Tortorella had been itching to get back behind the bench.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026
There was a story here, somewhere, itching to be told.
From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia
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.
