# itching

/ˈɪtʃɪŋ/ (US) · /ˈɪtʃɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. skin sensation

adjective · CEFR B1

having a feeling on your skin that makes you want to scratch it.

For teachers: experiencing a physical sensation of irritation on the skin that elicits the urge to scratch.

- He had an itching rash on his arm after walking through the tall grass.
- The patient complained of an itching sensation around the wound, which the nurse noted as a common side effect of the healing process.

Usage: Often used as a present participle in continuous tenses or as a participial adjective.

### 2. wanting to do something

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

wanting to do something very much or feeling restless because you want to start.

For teachers: feeling a restless or impatient desire to perform a particular action.

- After two weeks of rain, the kids were itching to go outside and play.
- Having spent months in the research phase, the lead engineer was itching to begin the physical construction of the prototype.

Usage: Typically followed by an infinitive verb phrase starting with 'to'.

### 3. the feeling itself

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the actual feeling of an itch.

For teachers: the occurrence or state of experiencing an itch; the gerund form of the verb.

- The constant itching made it very difficult for him to fall asleep.
- Chronic itching can lead to secondary skin infections if the patient is unable to resist the urge to scratch the affected area.

## Examples

- My skin is itching after walking through the tall grass.
- After three years in the same office job, he was itching to travel and see the world.
- The patient reported an itching sensation across her palms, which the doctor identified as a common allergic reaction to the new medication.

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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.