English Reference

Word

irked

US/ˈɝkt/

UK/ˈɜːkt/

Definition

adj. feeling annoyed or irritated by something. You use this when something small or repetitive is bothering you.

adj. feeling annoyed, irritated, or weary. Often used predicatively after linking verbs such as 'feel', 'seem', or 'become'.

Examples

“He felt irked by the constant noise from the street.”

“She was clearly irked by his habit of interrupting her during every meeting.”

“The diplomat was visibly irked by the lack of progress in the negotiations, though he maintained a professional exterior for the cameras.”

Examples

simple

“He felt irked by the constant noise from the street.”

contextual

“She was clearly irked by his habit of interrupting her during every meeting.”

complex

“The diplomat was visibly irked by the lack of progress in the negotiations, though he maintained a professional exterior for the cameras.”

Usage

Typically follows a linking verb; often takes the preposition 'by' or 'at'.

Real-World Examples

“What has further irked Canadians has been Trump musing on Canada becoming a 51st US state.”
BBC News · 24 Aug 2026

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/irked

English Reference