twitch
C1Pronunciation
UK
- /twˈɪtʃ/
US
- /ˈtwɪtʃ/
Description
- sudden jerk
- spasm
- flutter
A twitch is a small, quick movement that often happens without meaning to. You might feel an eyelid twitch when you are tired, see a dog's ear twitch at a sound, or notice a slight twitch in someone's mouth when they are nervous.
The word can be used as both a noun and a verb. It usually suggests a short, sudden movement rather than a full action. Sometimes it comes from stress, tiredness, or strong feeling, and sometimes it is just a quick physical reaction.
A twitch is a small, sudden movement, often one that happens for just a moment. As a noun, it can mean a quick jerk or slight spasm in a muscle, such as an eyelid twitch when you have not slept enough. As a verb, it means to move in that quick way: a finger might twitch, a rabbit's nose might twitch, or someone's face might twitch with nerves.
The word is often used for movements that are not fully controlled. They may come from stress, tiredness, fear, pain, excitement, or a simple physical response. In everyday use, it often describes tiny movements in muscles, the face, or parts of an animal's body, especially when the movement is brief and easy to miss.
It can also describe a slight movement that shows feeling. A person's mouth may twitch before a smile, or a jaw may twitch with anger or tension. In this way, the word does more than name motion; it can hint at what someone is feeling inside.
Overall, the idea behind twitch is always quick, slight motion. Sometimes it is purely physical, and sometimes it helps paint a picture of emotion, nerves, or reaction, but it nearly always suggests a brief movement rather than a deliberate action.
Examples
- 1
Eye strain
His left eye started to twitch after a long day at the screen.
- 2
Animal reaction
The dog’s ears twitched when it heard someone at the door.
- 3
Cold shock
She twitched when the cold water touched her back.
Pattern
twitch when + event
move suddenly because of surprise or discomfort
- 4
Sleep movement
The baby twitched in his sleep but didn’t wake up.
- 5
Hidden feeling
The corner of his mouth twitched as he tried not to laugh.
Pattern
the corner of someone’s mouth twitched
a small movement that shows a hidden feeling
- 6
Uncontrolled movement
I always get a nervous twitch in my eyelid before an exam.
Meaning
a twitch
a small quick movement that you cannot fully control
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- twitchnounverb
Forms
- twitching-ing formverbnoun
- twitchespluralnounverb
- twitchedpast tenseverbnoun