# jerking

/ˈdʒɝkɪŋ/ (US) · /dʒˈɜːkɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/jerking
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

a sudden, quick movement that is not smooth. You might feel this if a car stops very fast or if your muscles twitch.

For teachers: a short, sudden, and spasmodic movement. Often refers to involuntary physical motions or the abrupt physical motion of a vehicle or machine.

## Examples

- The sudden jerking of the train made me spill my coffee.
- The doctor noticed a slight jerking in the patient's leg during the reflex test.
- The old engine started with a violent jerking that shook the entire chassis before finally settling into a rhythmic, if noisy, idle.

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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.