# irritate

/ˈɪɹɪˌteɪt/ (US) · /ˈɪɹɪtˌeɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/irritate
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to annoy

verb · CEFR B2

to make someone feel slightly angry or impatient.

For teachers: 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'.

### 2. physical discomfort

verb · CEFR B2

to make a part of your body feel sore, itchy, or painful.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The loud music began to irritate the neighbors.
- Harsh chemicals in some laundry detergents can irritate sensitive skin and cause a red rash.
- While the constant interruptions were intended to be helpful, they served only to irritate the lead researcher, who was attempting to finalize the data set before the deadline.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.