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
   a grasping nature; avarice
5. 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

Whatever his intention, for his safety and to discourage other former champions, hopefully the itch to get back in the ring has been scratched.

From BBC

Actress Jenny Mollen is itching to make sure everyone knows she didn’t realize she had head lice until she was already on her recent five-hour flight.

From Los Angeles Times

Another describes her with an expletive that rhymes with “itch.”

From Salon

He was going to keep satisfying that itch of having to do that stuff.

From Los Angeles Times

As Girl Ultra’s home base, it’s the space where the 28-year-old first settled into her slew of new age sounds and continues to scratch her itch for experimentation.

From Los Angeles Times

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.