twitch
1 of 3verb
ˈtwich 
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 3noun (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
ˈtwi-chə-lē
adverb twitch
3 of 3noun (2)
: quack grass
Synonyms
Verb
- fiddle
- fidget
- jerk
- jig
- jiggle
- squiggle
- squirm
- thrash
- thresh
- toss
- twist
- wiggle
- wriggle
- writhe
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb Her mouth was twitching as she began to cry. The rabbit twitched its ears.
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
Phrases Containing twitch
Kids Definition
twitch 1 of 2
verb
ˈtwich
twitched; twitching
1
: to move or cause to move with a slight trembling or jerky motion : quiver
The rabbit twitched its ears.
Her body was twitching with exhaustion.
2
: to move or pull with a sudden motion : jerk
She twitched the blanket aside.
twitch
2 of 2noun
1
: a slight tremble or jerk of a muscle or body part
a twitch of the tail
2
: a short sudden pull or jerk
Charlotte gave her web a twitch and moodily watched it sway.
E. B. White, Charlotte's Web
E. B. White, Charlotte's Web Medical Definition
twitch 1 of 3
intransitive verb
ˈtwich
: to undergo a brief spasmodic muscular contraction
the muscle twitched
twitch
2 of 3noun
: a brief spasmodic contraction of muscle fibers
also : a slight jerk of a body part caused by such a contraction
twitch
3 of 3noun
: quack grass
twitching 1 of 2
noun
as in shaking
a series of slight movements by a body back and forth or from side to side the twitching of my cat's ears was a signal that I should stop petting her before she got any angrier Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- shaking
- trembling
- quivering
- shuddering
- shivering
- vibration
- tremor
- twitch
- jiggling
- quaking
- rocking
- tremble
- oscillation
- shudder
- shake
- quiver
- juddering
- palpitation
- shiver
- jiggle
twitching
2 of 2verb
1
as in fidgeting
to make jerky or restless movements the dog twitched in her sleep Synonyms & Similar Words
- fidgeting
- jerking
- squirming
- trembling
- tossing
- wiggling
- shivering
- writhing
- fiddling
- shaking
- twisting
- quivering
- wriggling
- jigging
- jiggling
- fluttering
- thrashing
- shuddering
- squiggling
- flitting
- threshing
- quaking
- pacing
- twittering
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- resting
- relaxing
- unwinding
- calming (down)
- stilling
2
as in jerking
to move or cause to move with a sharp quick motion the rabbit twitched its nose Synonyms & Similar Words
- jerking
- yanking
- lurching
- shaking
- pulling
- tugging
- grabbing
- jolting
- bucking
- bumping
- hitching
- tearing
- hoicking
- jigging
- jiggling
- dragging
- staggering
- jouncing
- plucking
- jogging
- snatching
- ripping
- tweaking
- lugging
- joggling
- wringing
- wrenching
- pitching
- wresting
- snapping (up)
- neuromerism
- neuromotor apparatus
- neuromotor system
- neuromotorium
- neuromuscular
- neuron
- neuronal
- neurone
- neurones
- neuronic
- neuronism
- neuronist
- neurons
- neuropathic
- neuropathically
- neuropathies
- neuropathists
- neuropathologic
- neuropathological
- neuropathologies
- neuropathologist
- neuropathologists
- neuropathology
- neuropaths
- neuropathy