jumpy

adjective

ˈjəm-pē 

jumpier; jumpiest

1

: nervous, jittery

2

: characterized by jumps or sudden variations

jumpiness noun

Synonyms of jumpy

• excitable
• nervous
• unstable

Examples of jumpy in a Sentence

trying to calm jumpy passengers

flight attendants had to calm jumpy passengers after the plane hit unexpected turbulence

Recent Examples on the Web

While the keyboard is also acceptable, the touchpad is very jumpy. — Christopher Null, Wired News, 11 June 2026

Transformer shortages and jumpy capacity prices add to it, but the connection queue is the bottleneck steering clients toward building their own power on site. — Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 3 June 2026

Everyone has been even more jumpy about protecting data ever since. — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 29 May 2026

Cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo’s camerawork is a marvel of kinetic energy, full of breathtaking pans and tracking sequences that eschew the usual jumpy handheld approach to scenes with this kind of intensity. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for jumpy

• bumpy
• dumpy
• grumpy
• lumpy
• stumpy

Kids Definition

jumpy

adjective

ˈjəm-pē 

jumpier; jumpiest

: nervous sense 2a, jittery

after a long restless night, the soldiers were jumpy

jumpiness noun