irritateir‧ri‧tate /ˈɪrɪteɪt/ ●●○ verb [transitive] 
It really irritates me when he doesn’t help around the house.2to make a part of your body painful and sore: This cream may irritate sensitive skin.
WORD ORIGINirritate
Origin:
1500-1600 Latin past participle of irritare ‘to cause strong feelings in, excite’VERB TABLE
irritate
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | irritate |
| he, she, it | irritates | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | irritated |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have irritated |
| he, she, it | has irritated | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had irritated |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will irritate |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have irritated |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am irritating |
| he, she, it | is irritating | |
| you, we, they | are irritating | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was irritating |
| you, we, they | were irritating | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been irritating |
| he, she, it | has been irritating | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been irritating |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be irritating |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been irritating |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- After a while, the loud ticking of the clock began to irritate me.
- I don't want to listen to muzak in stores - it irritates me.
- Jean Paul's attempts to apologize just irritated me even more.
- Nineteen percent of women will still use a beauty product, even if it irritates their skin.
- Perfumes in soap can irritate skin.
- That silly smile of hers always irritated me.
- The pollen irritated my eyes, which were red and streaming with tears.
- Anyway, I'd been very busy the day before and Doreen had irritated me for other reasons.
- It irritates me when people give me phoney information.
- That this objective has not been achieved continues to irritate Dublin.
- The influx of refugees irritated the residents of Pusan.
Longman Language Activatorto make someone angry
also make somebody mad especially American · Sophie tried not to do anything that would make Henry angry. · It always makes me mad when people drive up behind me and start flashing their lights.
to make someone fairly angry: · The only reason she went out with Charles was to annoy her parents.· Jane's constant chatter was beginning to annoy me.· Are you doing that just to annoy me?it annoys somebody that/when: · It annoys me that Kim never returns the books she borrows.I find it annoying when...: · I find it annoying when people eat smelly foods on public transport.
to keep annoying someone: · That silly smile of hers always irritated me.· After a while, the loud ticking of the clock began to irritate me.· Jean Paul's attempts to apologize just irritated me even more.
also tick somebody off American informal an impolite expression meaning to annoy someone: · Shut up, Bernie, before you really start to piss me off.it pisses somebody off the way: · Doesn't it piss you off the way your husband sits in front of the TV every night while you cook dinner?
to make someone very angry especially by doing something that they cannot control or change: · Her racist attitudes infuriated her co-workers.· Kramer's stubborn refusal to answer any questions infuriated the officers.
formal to make someone angry: · The police department's handling of the affair has angered many in the community.· The decision to again allow logging in the area angered environmentalists.
informal if something bugs you, it annoys you because it is always there or is always happening, so that you cannot stop thinking about it or noticing it: · It really bugs me when I can't remember someone's name.· You know what bugs me? Getting a call from a telephone salesman right when I sit down to dinner.
if someone or something gets on your nerves , they annoy you, especially by continually saying or doing something that you do not like: · The noise from the apartment upstairs was beginning to get on my nerves.· I hope Emma isn't going to be there - she really gets on my nerves.
spoken informal use this to say that something makes you very angry, especially an unfair situation: · It makes me sick, the way they treat old people here.
British /be like waving a red rag in front of a bull American if something is like a red rag to a bull , it will always make a particular person angry: · Whatever you do, don't mention his ex-wife. It's like a red rag to a bull.
when something makes someone feel pain if something or someone hurts you, they make you feel pain: · Did it hurt when they stuck the needle in?· Stop it - you're hurting me.
to cause a sudden sharp pain on your skin or in your eyes for a short time: · The antiseptic might sting a little.· The smoke stung my eyes.
if a substance irritates a part of your body, especially your eyes or your skin, it makes it become sore: · The pollen irritated my eyes, which were red and streaming with tears.· Nineteen percent of women will still use a beauty product, even if it irritates their skin.
if pain or a particular movement is agonizing or excruciating , it is extremely strong so that you are almost unable to move or do something: · The pain moved to my elbow, and it became agonizing to even lift my arm.· The excruciating pain in his kidneys made him gasp.
especially British, informal if something you do or something someone does to you is agony , it hurts a lot: · It was agony having my tooth removed - I don't think the dentist knew what he was doing.· Climbing five flights of stairs with all those bags was absolute bloody agony.
WORD SETSabscess, nounache, verbache, nounacne, nounagoraphobia, nounagoraphobic, nounague, noun-aholic, suffixAIDS, nounailment, nounairsick, adjectivealbino, nounalcoholic, nounalcoholism, nounallergic, adjectiveallergy, nounamnesia, nounamputee, nounanaemia, nounanaemic, adjectiveangina, nounanorexia, nounanorexic, adjectiveantacid, nounanthrax, nounantibody, nounantidepressant, nounantidote, nounantigen, nounantihistamine, nounanti-inflammatory, adjectiveantitoxin, nounapoplectic, adjectiveapoplexy, nounappendicitis, nounarteriosclerosis, nounarthritis, nounaseptic, adjectiveaspirin, nounasthma, nounastigmatism, nounasymptomatic, adjectiveathlete's foot, nounatrophy, verbauto-immune disease, nounAyurvedic medicine, nounbaby blues, nounbacillus, nounbackache, nounbark, verbbattle fatigue, nounBCG, nounbedridden, adjectivebedsore, nounbed-wetting, nounbellyache, nounbenign, adjectiveberiberi, nounbespectacled, adjectivebetter, adjectivebilious, adjectivebinge, verbbiopsy, nounbirthmark, nounbite, verbbite, nounblack and blue, adjectiveBlack Death, the, black eye, nounblackout, nounbleed, verbbleeding, nounblind, verbblister, nounblister, verbblood bank, nounblood donor, nounblood poisoning, nounbloodshot, adjectiveblood transfusion, nounbloody, adjectivebloody, verbblue baby, nounboil, nounbotulism, nounbrain damage, nounbreakdown, nounbronchitis, nounbruise, nounbruise, verbBSE, nounbubonic plague, nounbug, nounbulimia, nounbump, nounbunion, nounbuzz, verbcalloused, adjectivecallus, nouncancer, nouncandida, nouncanker, nouncarbuncle, nouncarcinogen, nouncarcinogenic, adjectivecarcinoma, nouncardiac, adjectivecardiovascular, adjectivecaries, nouncarpal tunnel syndrome, nouncarrier, nouncarry, verbcarsick, adjectivecast, nouncasualty, nouncataract, nouncatarrh, nouncatatonic, adjectivecatching, adjectivecauliflower ear, nouncerebral palsy, nouncertify, verbcervical smear, nounchapped, adjectivecharley horse, nounchemotherapy, nounchesty, adjectivechicken pox, nounchilblains, nounChinese medicine, nouncholera, nounchronic, adjectivecirrhosis, nounCJD, nouncleanse, verbcleft palate, nounclinic, nounclinical, adjectiveclub foot, nouncold, nouncold sore, nouncolic, nouncolitis, nouncollapse, verbcolour-blind, adjectivecoma, nouncommon cold, nouncommon denominator, nouncommunicate, verbcomplaint, nouncomplicate, verbcomplication, nouncompound fracture, nounconcuss, verbconcussion, nouncondition, nouncongenital, adjectivecongested, adjectiveconjunctivitis, nounconstipation, nounconsumption, nounconsumptive, nouncontagion, nouncontagious, adjectivecontinent, adjectivecontract, verbcontusion, nounconvalesce, verbconvulsion, nouncorn, nouncortisone, nouncot death, nouncough, nounCPR, nouncrack-up, nouncramp, nounCreutzfeldt-Jakob disease, nouncrick, nouncrick, verbcripple, nouncripple, verbcross-eyed, adjectivecroup, nouncurable, adjectivecut, nouncyst, nouncystic fibrosis, nouncystitis, noundecompression sickness, noundeep vein thrombosis, noundeformity, noundegenerative, adjectivedehydrate, verbdelirious, adjectivedelirium, noundelusion, noundementia, noundengue fever, noundepression, noundermatitis, noundiabetes, noundiabetic, adjectivediabetic, noundiagnosis, noundialysis, noundiaper rash, noundiarrhoea, noundiphtheria, noundisability, noundisable, verbdisabled, adjectivedischarge, verbdisease, noundisgorge, verbdislocate, verbdisorder, noundissipated, adjectivedissipation, noundistemper, noundistend, verbdizzy, adjectivedoddering, adjectivedoddery, adjectivedonate, verbdonor, noundouble vision, noundoughy, adjectivedown, adverbDown's syndrome, noundrawn, adjectivedressing, noundrinker, noundrunk, adjectivedrunk, noundrunken, adjectivedull, adjectivedumb, adjectiveDVT, noundysentery, noundyslexia, noundyspepsia, noundyspeptic, adjectiveearache, nouneating disorder, nounEbola, nounectopic pregnancy, nouneczema, nounemaciated, adjectiveemasculate, verbembolism, nounemphysema, nounencephalitis, nounendoscope, nounenervate, verbenteritis, nounepidemic, nounepilepsy, nounepileptic, adjectiveepileptic, nounetiology, nounexcruciating, adjectiveexposure, nouneyeless, adjectiveeye strain, nounfail, verbfaint, nounfester, verbfever, nounfever blister, nounfevered, adjectivefeverish, adjectivefirst aid, nounfit, nounflat feet, nounflat-footed, adjectiveflu, nounfood poisoning, nounfoot and mouth disease, nounfracture, verbfracture, nounfrostbite, noungall, noungammy, adjectiveganglion, noungangrene, noungas, noungash, noungastric, adjectivegastritis, noungastroenteritis, nounGerman measles, nounget, verbgingivitis, nounglandular fever, nounglaucoma, noungnarled, adjectivegonorrhea, noungout, noungrand mal, noungraze, verbgraze, noungriping, adjectivegroggy, adjectivegrowing pains, noungrowth, noungush, verbgynaecology, nounhacking cough, nounhaemophilia, nounhaemophiliac, nounhaemorrhage, nounhaemorrhage, verbhaemorrhoids, nounhalitosis, nounhandicap, nounhandicapped, adjectivehangover, nounhard of hearing, adjectiveharelip, nounhay fever, nounheadache, nounhealth, nounheart attack, nounheartburn, nounheart disease, nounheart failure, nounheat exhaustion, nounheat rash, nounheatstroke, nounheave, verbhepatitis, nounhernia, nounherpes, nounHIV, nounhormone replacement therapy, nounhospital, nounhospitalize, verbhot flush, nounhousebound, adjectiveHRT, nounhump, nounhumpback, nounhunchback, nounhungover, adjectivehydrophobia, nounhypertension, nounhypothermia, nounhysterectomy, nounhysteria, nounhysterical, adjectiveillness, nounimmune, adjectiveimmune system, nounimmunity, nounimmunize, verbimmunology, nounimpacted, adjectiveimpediment, nounimpetigo, nounimpotent, adjectiveincision, nounincontinent, adjectiveincubate, verbincurable, adjectiveindigestion, nounindisposed, adjectiveindisposition, nouninfantile, adjectiveinfantile paralysis, nouninfect, verbinfected, adjectiveinfection, nouninfectious, adjectiveinfirmity, nouninflammation, nouninflammatory, adjectiveinfluenza, nouninfusion, nouningrowing, adjectiveinoculate, verbinoperable, adjectiveinsane, adjectiveinsanity, nouninsomnia, nouninsomniac, nouninstability, nounintensive care, nounintravenous, adjectiveinvalid, nouninvalidity, nouninvasive, adjectiveirregular, adjectiveirritable bowel syndrome, nounirritant, nounirritate, verbirritated, adjectiveirritation, noun-ism, suffixisolation, nounjaundice, nounjaundiced, adjectivejet lag, nounknock-kneed, adjectiveknotted, adjectivelaceration, nounlaryngitis, nounlegionnaire's disease, nounleper, nounleprosy, nounlesion, nounleukemia, nounlisp, nounlisteria, nounliverish, adjectivelockjaw, nounlong-sighted, adjectiveloose, adjectivelozenge, nounlumbago, nounlunacy, nounLyme disease, nounmad cow disease, nounmalady, nounmalaise, nounmalaria, nounmalformation, nounmalignancy, nounmalignant, adjectivemalnourished, adjectivemalnutrition, nounmange, nounmangy, adjectivemania, nounmanic, adjectivemanic depression, nounmastitis, nounME, nounmeasles, nounmedicinal, adjectivemegalomania, nounmegalomaniac, nounmelancholia, nounmelancholic, adjectivemelanoma, nounmend, verbmeningitis, nounmentally handicapped, adjectivemigraine, nounmild, adjectivemiscarriage, nounmole, nounmongol, nounmono, nounmononucleosis, nounmorbid, adjectivemorning sickness, nounmoron, nounmotion sickness, nounmotor neurone disease, nounMRI, nounMRSA, nounMS, nounmultiple sclerosis, nounmumps, nounmurmur, nounmusclebound, adjectivemuscular dystrophy, nounmute, adjectivemute, nounmyopia, nounmyopic, adjectivemyxomatosis, nounnarcolepsy, nounnausea, nounnauseate, verbnauseous, adjectivenearsighted, adjectivenervous breakdown, nounnettle rash, nounneuralgia, nounneurosis, nounneurotic, adjectivenosebleed, nounnotifiable, adjectiveNSU, nounobesity, nounoff-colour, adjectiveoperate, verboperation, nounophthalmic, adjectiveophthalmology, noun-osis, suffixosteoarthritis, nounosteopathy, nounosteoporosis, nounoutpatient, nounoverbite, nounpacemaker, nounpaediatrics, nounpale, adjectivepallid, adjectivepallor, nounpalpitate, verbpalpitations, nounpalsy, nounpandemic, nounparalyse, verbparalysed, adjectiveparalysis, nounparalytic, adjectiveparalytic, nounparanoia, nounparaplegia, nounparaplegic, nounparasitic, adjectiveParkinson's disease, nounparoxysm, nounpasty, adjectivepasty-faced, adjectivepathogen, nounpathological, adjectivepathology, nounpeaked, adjectivepeaky, adjectivepellagra, nounpeptic ulcer, nounperforated, adjectiveperiod pain, nounperitonitis, nounpernicious anaemia, nounpersecution complex, nounpestilence, nounpestilential, adjectivepetit mal, nounpharyngitis, nounphlebitis, nounphlegm, noun-phobic, suffixphysiotherapy, nounpigeon-toed, adjectivepins and needles, nounplacebo, nounplague, nounplaque, nounplaster cast, nounpleurisy, nounPMS, nounPMT, nounpneumonia, nounpockmark, nounpockmarked, adjectivepoisoning, nounpolio, nounpolyp, nounpoor, adjectivepost-traumatic stress disorder, nounpremenstrual tension, nounprescribe, verbprescription, nounpreventive medicine, nounprickle, verbprickly heat, nounprognosis, nounprolapse, nounprophylactic, adjectiveprophylactic, nounprophylaxis, nounpsoriasis, nounpsychopath, nounpsychosis, nounpsychosomatic, adjectivepsychotic, adjectivepuffy, adjectivepull, verbpurulent, adjectivepus, nounpustule, nounqueasy, adjectiverabid, adjectiverabies, nounradiation sickness, nounradiography, nounrash, nounraw, adjectivereact, verbreaction, nounreceive, verbrecuperate, verbrecuperative, adjectiveregurgitate, verbrelapse, verbremission, nounrepetitive strain injury, nounresistance, nounrespond, verbretch, verbRhesus factor, nounrheumatic, adjectiverheumatic fever, nounrheumatism, nounrheumatoid arthritis, nounrickets, nounringworm, nounRSI, nounrubella, nounrun-down, adjectiverunny, adjectiverupture, nounsaddle-sore, adjectivesalmonella, nounscab, nounscabby, adjectivescabies, nounscald, verbscald, nounscaly, adjectivescar, nounscar, verbscarlet fever, nounschizophrenia, nounsciatica, nounsclerosis, nounscrape, verbscrape, nounscratch, nounscurvy, nounseasick, adjectiveseizure, nounself-examination, nounsenile, adjectivesenile dementia, nounsenseless, adjectivesepsis, nounseptic, adjectivesepticaemia, nounserum, nounset, verbsexually transmitted disease, nounshell shock, nounshell-shocked, adjectiveshingles, nounshock, nounshort-sighted, adjectivesickle-cell anaemia, nounsickly, adjectivesickness, nounside effect, nounsightless, adjectivesimple fracture, nounsleeping sickness, nounslipped disc, nounsmallpox, nounsnakebite, nounsnow blindness, nounsore, adjectivesore, nounspastic, adjectivespecial needs, nounspecimen, nounspina bifida, nounsprain, verbsputum, nounsquint, verbsquint, nounstammer, nounstarvation, nounstarve, verbSTD, nounstomachache, nounstone, nounstrain, nounstrain, verbstrangulated, adjectivestrep throat, nounstroke, nounsty, nounsuccumb, verbsufferer, nounsunstroke, nounsuperbug, nounsurgical, adjectiveswelling, nounswollen, adjectivesymptom, nounsymptomatic, adjectivesyndrome, nounsyphilis, nounTB, nountear, verbtetanus, nountherapeutic, adjectivetherapy, nounthrombosis, nounthrush, nountic, nountight, adjectivetingle, verbtinnitus, nountipsy, adjectivetonsillitis, nountoothache, nountorment, nountourniquet, nountoxaemia, nountoxic shock syndrome, nountraction, nountransfusion, nountrauma, nountravel sickness, nountreatment, nountremor, nountuberculosis, nountumour, nountunnel vision, nountwinge, nountwitch, nountyphoid, nountyphus, nounulcer, nounulcerate, verbultrasound, noununderweight, adjectiveundressed, adjectiveunhealthy, adjectiveuntreated, adjectivevaccinate, verbvaccine, nounvaricose veins, nounVD, nounvenereal disease, nounverruca, nounvertigo, nounviral, adjectivevirology, nounvirulent, adjectivevomit, verbvomit, nounwart, nounweak, adjectiveweal, nounweep, verbwheeze, verbwheeze, nounwheezy, adjectivewhiplash, nounwhooping cough, nounwind, nounwithered, adjectivewound, nounwrench, verbwriter's cramp, nounyaws, nounyeast infection, nounyellow fever, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY It really irritates me when he doesn’t help around the house. This cream may irritate sensitive skin.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1to make someone feel annoyed or impatient, especially by doing something many times or for a long period of time: It really irritates me when he doesn’t help around the house. This cream may irritate sensitive skin. (=make it red or sore)· Some types of make-up can irritate your skin.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· It irritates me when people give me phoney information.· That starting point will already have irritated two kinds of people.· For one thing, she was grateful that she was no longer the only inconvenient, disabled person irritating a crowd of people.· The writer's po-faced style occasionally irritates: do people really need reminding that cases of bubonic plague should be treated immediately?
· The discharges irritate and make the skin sore; salivation may be profuse; the breath offensive.· It's fresh, pleasant to use, doesn't irritate skin and keeps me fresh all day.· The cleansing bar uses no animal fats or chemicals which can irritate the skin.· Don't pull strips straight up or you may irritate skin and break off hair.· I've tried loads of different mousses but most of them irritate my skin.· Washing-up can lead to dry hands but cleansing fluids, sprays and polishes can also irritate dry, sensitive skin.
VERB· People are familiar with them and can become confused and irritated when they change.· More and more, I had become irritated by the friendly presence of the old people at the table.· When this happens the esophagus becomes irritated and inflamed, causing a burning sensation that has the potential to awaken a sleeper.· At last one of them, an evil-tempered man, became irritated and gave him a blow.· Diapered skin can become irritated for a variety of reasons.
· And some girl are so spoiled they get irritated if they serve the same dessert for lunch and dinner.· Perhaps I just got irritated from trying to make all the bits fit together and find the thread through the labyrinth.· So, every time I am offered assistance, I get irritated.
· Raoul seemed irritated that there were problems with his youngest child.· He both nodded and shrugged, which seemed to irritate her.
It really irritates me when he doesn’t help around the house.2to make a part of your body painful and sore: This cream may irritate sensitive skin.