Word
jumpy
US/ˈdʒəmpi/
UK/dʒˈʌmpi/
Definition
adj. feeling nervous and easily scared by small sounds or sudden moves. You feel jumpy when you are stressed, tired, or afraid.
adj. easily startled by sudden sounds or movements; marked by nervous restlessness. Often follows linking verbs such as 'feel', 'seem', or 'get'.
Examples
“The loud noise makes the dog jumpy.”
“She feels jumpy before job interviews and checks her phone every few minutes.”
“After two nights without sleep, he grows jumpy at every hallway sound, mistaking routine footsteps for something threatening.”
Examples
simple
“The loud noise makes the dog jumpy.”
contextual
“She feels jumpy before job interviews and checks her phone every few minutes.”
complex
“After two nights without sleep, he grows jumpy at every hallway sound, mistaking routine footsteps for something threatening.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “jumpy” in context.
Verb
01. become jumpy
“The kids became jumpy after watching a scary film.”
verb + adj
02. feel jumpy
“I always feel jumpy when I hear steps behind me at night.”
verb + adj
03. get jumpy
“Don't drink too much coffee or you'll get jumpy.”
verb + adj
Adjective
04. extremely jumpy
“The dog was extremely jumpy during the thunderstorm last night.”
adv + adj
05. increasingly jumpy
“He became increasingly jumpy as the strange noises continued.”
adv + adj
Noun
06. jumpy crowd
“The jumpy crowd moved back when the barrier fell.”
adj + noun
07. jumpy horse
“The young rider struggled to control the jumpy horse.”
adj + noun
08. jumpy nerves
“A hot bath helped calm my jumpy nerves before the flight.”
adj + noun
09. be jumpy around strangers
“The rescue dog is still jumpy around strangers.”
10. feel a bit jumpy
“I felt a bit jumpy walking home alone in the dark.”
11. get jumpy at night
“Our cat always gets jumpy at night when she hears cars.”
12. jumpy at every sound
“After the break-in, we were jumpy at every sound.”
Usage
Predominantly predicative; commonly follows 'feel', 'seem', 'get', or 'become'.
Real-World Examples
“It made me very jumpy and nervous and it made me lose trust in the organisation where I worked.” Etymology
From jump + -y.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- 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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