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twitching

twitching

12 4.3
A quick, sudden movement of a muscle you cannot control, often in an eyelid
  • noun
  • /ˈtwɪtʃɪŋ/
translation icon : tic
  • There was a constant twitching of the lips, and the eyes were deep-set, little, and dull.
  • facial twitching

Examples

  • Unfortunately, even after 3 months, she continued to experience facial twitching in response to auditory stimulation.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Can't have weird occasional twitching in your eyes.

  • A few seconds of twitching can really mess you up on the rings.

  • I see your eye twitching.

  • "I need ten dollars back," she said and fought off a twitching in her eyes.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • I was sweating, but felt a twitching relief that it was only Joe.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Poomina stands there; the tears stop and a lip-twitching smile lights her face.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Turning into the wind, his twitching nose caught the unmistakable odor of horses and men.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Just some muscle twitching.

  • He noticed a twitching in his leg that made it hard to sit still.

Synonyms

twitch
vstwitching
46 3.5

A sudden small muscle movement you cannot control, often from stress

describes the same sudden movement but emphasizes nervous causes in speech
muscle spasm
vstwitching
  • Specialized
7 3.4

A sudden tight movement of a muscle that hurts or feels uncomfortable

focuses on quick spasms especially from nervous causes rather than painful cramps
jerk
vstwitching
7 2.2

A sudden sharp movement or pull

refers specifically to involuntary muscle spasms often linked to nerves
jerking
vstwitching
2 4.2

A sudden quick movement that happens without control

is more medical and specifically highlights muscle origin rather than general motion
myoclonus
vstwitching
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A sudden muscle twitch you cannot control

is the everyday label for similar sudden spasms often caused by nerves
fasciculation
vstwitching
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A small quick muscle twitch you can see under the skin

covers sudden muscle contractions more generally, not only tiny visible flickers
vellication
vstwitching
  • Specialized
9.9

A small sudden muscle twitch you cannot control

is the common, nontechnical way to refer to such sudden spasms
myokymia
vstwitching
  • Specialized
9.9

Small muscle twitches that happen without you meaning to, often in the eyelid or face

is broader and applies to sudden spasms anywhere, not only face areas
twitchiness
vstwitching
7.0

Small muscle movements you cannot control in one part of the body

is used for individual sudden spasms rather than an ongoing state

How Severe

convulsion
  • Specialized
20 7.3
spasm
  • Specialized
58 3.9
twitching
12 4.3

Surface Forms

twitching singular
twitchings plural

Morphology

twitching = twitch (transparent) = twitch + ing

The noun sense is directly formed from the verb 'twitch' by the productive suffix '-ing' denoting the action or event, which is easily inferable by learners.

Etymology

Twitching comes from an old English verb that meant 'to pull' or 'to jerk'. So a twitch is like a sudden small pull or jerk of a muscle, which is why twitching means those quick movements that are not under your control.