itch

If your skin does this, it feels uncomfortable and you want to scratch it.

• My arm itches.
• The wool sweater made my neck itch.
• Has your scalp been itching since you changed shampoos?

Common phrases: itch all over, itch badly, itch at night

To want very much to do or have something, often because you are impatient.

• I am itching to leave.
• She was itching for a chance to perform.
• After months indoors, we were itching to travel again.

How to use it: be itching to do something (I am itching to try my new bike.); be itching for something (The team is itching for another match.)

Similar words: long, yearn, crave

Common phrases: itch for something, itch to leave, itch to start, itch for a fight

To rub your skin with your nails because it feels uncomfortable.

• Stop itching your arm.
• He itched the mosquito bite through his shirt.
• She kept itching her back during the meeting.

Similar words: scratch, rub

Common phrases: itch your arm, itch your back, itch a bite

An uncomfortable feeling on your skin that makes you want to rub it with your nails.

• I have an itch on my arm.
• This cream helps relieve the itch.
• The mosquito bites left several annoying itches.

Similar words: itchiness

Common phrases: an annoying itch, relieve an itch, scratch an itch, itch on something