Jump To:

• scratch
  scratch

  verb (used with object)

  to break, mar, or mark the surface of by rubbing, scraping, or tearing with something sharp or rough.
• Scratch
  Scratch

  noun

  Old Scratch; Satan.

scratch

¹ American  

[skrach] / skrætʃ /

verb (used with object)

• scratches,
  present (3rd person singular)
• scratched,
  past participle,  past
• scratching
  present participle

1. to break, mar, or mark the surface of by rubbing, scraping, or tearing with something sharp or rough.

   to scratch one's hand on a nail.

2. to dig, scrape, or tear (something) out or off with or as if with the nails, claws, etc..

   to scratch the burs off one's coat.

3. to rub or scrape slightly, as with the fingernails, to relieve itching.

4. to rub or draw along a rough, grating surface.

   to scratch a match on the sidewalk.

5. to erase, cancel, strike out, or eliminate (a name, something written, etc.) by or as if by drawing a line through it (often followed byout ).

   Scratch out the third name on the list.

6. to withdraw (an entry) from a race or competition.

7. U.S. Politics.

   1. to divide (one's vote) though predominantly supporting one political party or faction.

   2. to strike out or reject a particular name or names on (a party ticket) in voting.

8. to write or draw by scraping or cutting the lines into a surface.

   She scratched her initials on the glass.

9. to manipulate (a phonograph record) back and forth under the stylus to produce rhythmic sounds.

---

verb (used without object)

• scratches,
  present (3rd person singular)
• scratched,
  past participle,  past
• scratching
  present participle

1. to use the nails, claws, etc., for tearing, digging, etc.

2. to relieve itching by rubbing or scraping lightly, as with the fingernails.

3. to make a slight grating noise, as a pen.

4. to earn a living or to manage in any respect with great difficulty.

   We scratched along that year on very little money.

5. to withdraw or be withdrawn from a contest or competition.

6. (in certain card games) to make no score; earn no points.

7. Billiards, Pool. to make a shot that results in a penalty, especially to pocket the cue ball without hitting the object ball.

noun

• scratches
  plural

1. a slight injury, mar, or mark, usually thin and shallow, caused by scratching.

   three scratches on my leg; a noticeable scratch on the table.

2. a rough mark made by a pen, pencil, etc.; scrawl.

3. an act of scratching.

4. the slight grating sound caused by scratching.

5. the starting place, starting time, or status of a competitor in a handicap who has no allowance and no penalty.

6. Billiards, Pool.

   1. a shot resulting in a penalty, especially a pocketing of the cue ball without hitting the object ball.

   2. a fluke or lucky shot.

7. (in certain card games) a score of zero; nothing.

8. Baseball. scratch hit.

9. scratch wig.

10. Slang. money; cash.

adjective

1. used for hasty writing, notes, etc..

   scratch paper.

2. without any allowance, penalty, or handicap, as a competitor or contestant.

3. Informal. done by or dependent on chance.

   a scratch shot.

4. Informal. gathered hastily and indiscriminately.

   a scratch crew.

5. done or made from scratch.

   a scratch cake.

idioms

1. up to scratch, in conformity with a certain standard; adequate; satisfactory.

   The local symphony orchestra has improved this year, but it is still not up to scratch.

2. from scratch,

   1. from the very beginning or starting point.

   2. from nothing; without resources.

      After the depression he started another business from scratch.

Scratch ² American  

[skrach] / skrætʃ /

noun

1. Old Scratch; Satan.

---

scratch British  

/ skrætʃ /

verb

1. to mark or cut (the surface of something) with a rough or sharp instrument

2. to scrape (the surface of something), as with claws, nails, etc

3. to scrape (the surface of the skin) with the nails, as to relieve itching

4. to chafe or irritate (a surface, esp the skin)

5. to make or cause to make a grating sound; scrape

6. to erase by or as if by scraping

7. (tr) to write or draw awkwardly

8. to earn a living, manage, etc, with difficulty

9. to withdraw (an entry) from a race, match, etc

10. (intr) billiards snooker

    1. to make a shot resulting in a penalty

    2. to make a lucky shot

11. (tr) to cancel (the name of a candidate) from a party ticket in an election

12. informal to be struggling or in difficulty, esp in earning a living

13. to treat (a subject) superficially

14. if you will help me, I will help you

---

noun

1. the act of scratching

2. a slight injury

3. a mark made by scratching

4. a slight grating sound

5. 1. a competitor or the status of a competitor who has no allowance or receives a penalty

   2. ( as modifier )

      a scratch player

6. the time, initial score, etc, of such a competitor

7. 1. the line from which competitors start in a race

   2. (formerly) a line drawn on the floor of a prize ring at which the contestants stood to begin or continue fighting

8. a withdrawn competitor in a race, etc

9. billiards snooker

   1. a shot that results in a penalty, as when the cue ball enters the pocket

   2. a lucky shot

10. poultry food

11. informal from the very beginning

12. informal (usually used with a negative) up to standard

adjective

1. sport (of a team) assembled hastily

2. (in a handicap sport) with no allowance or penalty

3. informal rough or haphazard

scratch More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing scratch

• from scratch
• up to par (scratch)

---

Usage

What’s the difference between scratch and itch? To scratch something is to scrape it or rub it. An itch is a feeling of irritation on the skin, often one that makes you want to scratch 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 scratch and itch 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 scratch and itch.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• scratcher
  noun
• scratchiness
  noun
• scratchable
  adjective
• scratchless
  adjective
• scratchlike
  adjective
• scratchy
  adjective
• unscratchable
  adjective
• unscratched
  adjective
• unscratching
  adjective
• scratchably
  adverb
• scratchily
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• scratches
  plural

Participles

• scratching
  present
• scratched
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• scratch
  simple
• scratches
  simple
• have scratched
  perfect
• has scratched
  perfect
• am scratching
  progressive
• are scratching
  progressive
• is scratching
  progressive
• have been scratching
  perfect progressive
• has been scratching
  perfect progressive

Past

• scratched
  simple
• had scratched
  perfect
• was scratching
  progressive
• were scratching
  progressive
• had been scratching
  perfect progressive

Future

• will scratch
  simple
• will have scratched
  perfect
• will be scratching
  progressive
• will have been scratching
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of scratch¹

1425–75; late Middle English scracche (v.), blend of Middle English scratte to scratch, and cracche to scratch; cognate with Middle Dutch cratsen

Origin of Scratch²

1730–40; alteration of scrat hermaphrodite ( late Middle English scratte; compare Old English scritta (once), which may be an error for *scratta ); cognate with Old Norse skratti devil, goblin, wizard, Old High German skraz wood-demon

Explanation

I didn’t remember to bring my puppy, Fido, in from the snow until he began to frantically scratch at the door. A scratch is marking or marring a surface with something sharp, such as a nail against metal or fingernails across skin. If someone has scratch marks on their skin, you might wonder if they have been in a fight where there was scratching. Scratch can also mean to eliminate something, as in, “You can scratch our idea, the boss is going with the new guy’s plan.” And Scratch, often referred to as Old Scratch, is a longstanding nickname of the Devil.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

scratch Scratch scratches scratched scratching

While some of those who have lost their jobs have been reinstated or received restitution - sometimes in the millions - others like Bourguet have had to rebuild from scratch.

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026

She began cooking everything from scratch after realizing that eating highly processed foods was contributing to her eczema flare-ups.

From Salon ● Sep. 12, 2026

The slightly longer-term peril, then, looks like fresh SaaS companies built from scratch with AI at the core.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

"Some of the dogs run directly to the feeder expecting rewards, some dogs freeze, some dogs will scratch the sample with excitement," Bitan said.

From Barron's ● Sep. 7, 2026

Jeremy reached through the bars to scratch behind Pete's ears.

From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville

Record Scratch: A music industry coalition is pushing streaming giants like Spotify and Apple Music to label songs made by and with AI.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026

Rosie Matthews, from Chew Valley in Somerset, said she was relieved to have taken out higher-level insurance just weeks before her cat, Scratch, was hit by a car.

From BBC ● May 4, 2026

Scratch the surface of American politics or culture, and medievalism seems to always be lurking just beneath.

From Slate ● Feb. 21, 2025

Her son, Nicholas Scratch, is a villain who has gone up against the Fantastic Four.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2024

“I don’t know why, sometimes I itch all over at the same time! Scratch my back for me!”

From "A Place to Belong" by Cynthia Kadohata

A new study led by researchers at the University of Bologna suggests that the markings were far more organized than simple scratches or improvised decorations.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 9, 2026

Duration measures how far a fund drops when rates rise, and a long-term Treasury fund can post deep losses on a move that barely scratches a short-term bond fund.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

Flash frames, scratches and specks of dust pop up randomly on the screen.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026

The bonnet of the car was left with two scratches that he estimated would cost up to £300 to get fixed professionally.

From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026

Not even when Boomer whines and scratches at the door.

From "How to Disappear Completely" by Ali Standish

Ana Martinez, a spokesperson for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, told The Times that a vandal apparently scratched the star, though the damage has been quickly repaired.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

But on Monday, vandals scratched the star, which was dedicated in 1984, leaving Parton's name badly defaced, with video on social media showing the damage.

From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026

Ella gave herself an imaginary budget of £1,000 each day to spend on imaginary purchases, which "scratched the itch" of shopping without the cost.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

Whatever the intent, the scratched words are a hint of a lively world mostly hidden from our view.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

Pa scratched his cheek with the dull side of his knife.

From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney

“Although right now, I’m sure some of you are kind of scratching your head,” he said, “but we absolutely believe long term was the right thing to do.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

With residents already scratching and swatting, it took only a couple of charismatic entomologists to win over the right politicians to move legislation forward.

From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026

However, animals lacking those neurons, or in which the neurons had been switched off, showed a dramatic reduction in scratching behavior.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026

"Pokémon Go will always start with community - we think we're only scratching the surface here," he said.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

It was about a scary house and these scratching noises and...a ghost!

From "The World According to Humphrey" by Betty G. Birney

Related Words

• claw
• etch
• graze
• rub
• scrape
• scrawl
• scribble