Word
fidget
Phoneticsfid·get, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈfɪdʒɪt/
UK/fˈɪdʒɪt/
Definition
v. to make small, restless movements with your hands or feet because you feel bored, nervous, or impatient.
v. to make small, restless movements, typically with the hands or feet, from nervousness, boredom, or impatience. Often done without thinking and signals discomfort or distraction.
Examples
“She fidgets with her pen during long meetings.”
“The nervous boy fidgets in his chair while waiting outside the principal's office.”
“Throughout the lengthy testimony, the witness fidgets with the edge of his sleeve, betraying an anxiety his steady voice tries to conceal.”
Examples
simple
“She fidgets with her pen during long meetings.”
contextual
“The nervous boy fidgets in his chair while waiting outside the principal's office.”
complex
“Throughout the lengthy testimony, the witness fidgets with the edge of his sleeve, betraying an anxiety his steady voice tries to conceal.”
Usage
Intransitive; often followed by 'with' plus the thing handled ('fidget with keys').
Real-World Examples
“Jones said Sterling “appeared to be quiet, withdrawn and lethargic and actively fidgeting” during the tests.” “To minimise any awkwardness, sleep involved a number of strict social conventions, such as avoiding physical contact or too much fidgeting, and there were designated sleeping positions .” “The CDC says children with ADHD tend to have a hard time paying attention, to be forgetful, fidget and be easily distracted, to the point that it creates problems at school, home and with their friends.” Etymology
From fidge (“to fidget”) + -et (frequentative ending), possibly from Middle English -ten, from Old English -ettan.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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