Word
jittery
Phoneticsjit·tery
US/ˈdʒɪtɝi/
UK/dʒˈɪtəɹi/
Definition
adj. feeling nervous, shaky, or unable to relax. You might feel this way after drinking too much coffee or before a big test.
adj. characterised by nervous tension, slight shaking, or an inability to remain still. Often used to describe physical symptoms of anxiety or the effects of stimulants.
Examples
“Too much caffeine makes me feel jittery and anxious.”
“The investors were jittery before the central bank's announcement, causing the stock market to fluctuate wildly.”
“Despite her outward composure, the rapid tapping of her pen revealed a jittery interior state brought on by the impending deadline.”
Examples
simple
“Too much caffeine makes me feel jittery and anxious.”
contextual
“The investors were jittery before the central bank's announcement, causing the stock market to fluctuate wildly.”
complex
“Despite her outward composure, the rapid tapping of her pen revealed a jittery interior state brought on by the impending deadline.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “jittery” in context.
Verb
01. feel jittery
“Too much caffeine always makes me feel jittery and unable to focus.”
verb + adj
02. jittery about
“She is still jittery about driving on the highway after her accident.”
adj + prep
03. make jittery
“The sudden noise made the horse jittery and difficult to control.”
verb + adj
Adjective
04. distinctly jittery
“He felt distinctly jittery as he waited for the interview to begin.”
adv + adj
05. increasingly jittery
“Investors are becoming increasingly jittery about the stability of the currency.”
adv + adj
Noun
06. jittery market
“The jittery market reacted poorly to the news of the interest rate hike.”
adj + noun
07. jittery nerves
“He tried to calm his jittery nerves by taking deep breaths before the performance.”
adj + noun
08. get the jitters
“I always get the jitters right before I have to speak in public.”
09. make the markets jittery
“The political uncertainty is starting to make the markets jittery.”
Usage
Often follows linking verbs like 'feel', 'get', or 'become'.
Real-World Examples
“Investors were also jittery after the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield briefly surpassed 5% for the first time since 2023 ahead of this week's Federal Reserve meeting.” “Historically, stocks do get a little jittery initially after the hiking cycles start," said Jeffrey Buchbinder, chief equity strategist at LPL Financial.” “The Treasury Department on Wednesday calmed a jittery bond market by doubling the amount of its own debt it is permitted to buy back from investors.” “Mining investors jittery about politics in Peru as vote count drags on, analysts say” Etymology
From jitter + -y.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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
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