Word
irritate
Phoneticsir·ri·tate, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɪɹɪˌteɪt/
UK/ˈɪɹɪtˌeɪt/
Definitions
01to annoy
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to make someone feel slightly angry or impatient.
v. to provoke impatience, anger, or displeasure in another person.
“The constant sound of the dripping tap began to irritate him.”
“His colleague's habit of interrupting during meetings began to irritate the manager, who eventually requested a private discussion about professional conduct.”
Usage
Often used in the passive voice to describe a state of mind: 'to be irritated by something'.
02physical discomfort
B2 · Upper Intermediate Medicine
v. to make a part of your body feel sore, itchy, or painful.
v. to induce inflammation, soreness, or physical discomfort in a body part or organism.
“The harsh chemicals in the soap can irritate sensitive skin.”
“The smoke from the nearby forest fire continued to irritate the residents' eyes and throats, forcing many to stay indoors.”
Usage
Commonly takes a body part or a biological system as a direct object.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Patients who wear contact lenses also tend to leave their contacts in, even if something is irritating their eyes.” “It would end for many callers the irritating wait in dead silence.”
Dead silence may have disappeared, but a new annoyance was now taking its place.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin irrītātus, perfect passive participle of irrītō (“excite, irritate, incite, stimulate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).
Borrowed from Latin irritātus, perfect passive participle of irritō (“to invalidate, render void, annul”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from irritus (“invalid”), the equivalent of in- + ratus (“valid, established, fixed”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
- 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
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/irritate