twitch

1 of 3

verb

twitched; twitching; twitches

intransitive verb

1
: to move jerkily : quiver
2
: to undergo a brief spasmodic muscular contraction
his hand twitched
3
: pull, pluck
twitched at my sleeve

transitive verb

: to move or pull with a sudden motion : jerk
twitcher noun

twitch

2 of 3

noun (1)

1
a
: a brief spasmodic contraction of the muscle fibers
b
: a slight jerk of a body part
2
: an act of twitching
especially : a short sudden pull or jerk
3
: a physical or mental pang
a twitch of remorse
4
: a loop of rope or strap that is tightened over a horse's lip as a restraining device
twitchily adverb

twitch

3 of 3

noun (2)

Examples of twitch in a Sentence

Verb Her mouth was twitching as she began to cry. The rabbit twitched its ears.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Symptoms of a seizure can include convulsions, twitching of the arms or legs, or even loss of consciousness. Julie Scott, Msn, People.com, 2 Oct. 2024 Bunnies, with their fluffy ears and twitching noses, have a magical and unique way of bringing joy into the home. Lisa Bloch, The Mercury News, 1 Oct. 2024 Just as cats lash, twitch or shake their tails to communicate with each other, Sinosauropteryx may have done the same. Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Sep. 2024 His breathing got more shallows and his face twitched for another four or five minutes before the movements stopped. CBS News, 20 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for twitch 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'twitch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English twicchen; akin to Old English twiccian to pluck, Old High German gizwickan to pinch

Noun (2)

alteration of quitch

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (1)

circa 1523, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1595, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of twitch was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near twitch

Cite this Entry

“Twitch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/twitch. Accessed 12 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

twitch

1 of 2 verb
1
: to move or pull with a sudden motion : jerk
2
3
: to undergo a brief muscular contraction
his hand twitched

twitch

2 of 2 noun
1
: an act of twitching
2
a
: a brief contraction of muscle fibers
b
: a slight jerk of a body part
twitchy
adjective

Medical Definition

twitch

1 of 3 intransitive verb
: to undergo a brief spasmodic muscular contraction
the muscle twitched

twitch

2 of 3 noun
: a brief spasmodic contraction of muscle fibers
also : a slight jerk of a body part caused by such a contraction

twitch

3 of 3 noun

More from Merriam-Webster on twitch

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!