jitters

IPA/ˈdʒɪtəz/

KK[dʒˈɪtɚz]IPA/ˈdʒɪtərz/

1.nounB1

Definition

a strong feeling of nervousness or worry that arises in people ahead of something significant — for example, taking an exam, going to a job interview, or giving a public performance

Example

Nikhil had the jitters before his driving test and could barely hold the wheel steady.

have + the jitters + before + event

The night before her wedding, Lara woke up with the jitters at three.

wake up with the jitters

Common collocations

have the jitters
get the jitters
give someone the jitters
pre-exam jitters
pre-wedding jitters
a bad case of the jitters

Synonyms

nervousness
the general, neutral term for feeling worried or uneasy about something
anxiety
a more clinical or sustained feeling of worry, stronger and longer-lasting than 'jitters'
butterflies (in one's stomach)
an informal idiom describing the same fluttering feeling before an event, more physical than 'jitters'
stage fright
specifically about performing or speaking in public

Antonyms

calmness
the complete absence of nervousness or worry
composure
the ability to stay cool and collected under pressure

Grammar Patterns

the jitters

have/get/give someone the jitters

a case of the jitters

Usage Note

The noun 'jitters' is always plural in form but is uncountable in meaning, typically paired with the definite article: 'the jitters'. It is not used as a singular noun ('a jitter'). The expression is common in informal and everyday contexts, though not considered vulgar or slang.

Common Mistakes

I have a jitter before my exam.

I have the jitters before my exam.

'jitters' is always plural and uses 'the', never 'a'.

The jitters are making me nervous.

The jitters is making me nervous.

'the jitters' takes a singular verb, even though it looks plural.

jitterspresent simple I / you / we / they
jitterses3rd person singular
jittersing-ing form
jittersedpast simple

1.verbintransitiveB2

Definition

to make quick, small, repeated movements in an unsteady or jerky way — used especially of machines, screens, or mechanical parts that are not working smoothly

Example

The old projector jittered every few seconds, making the film hard to watch.

Otis noticed the cursor jittering across the screen whenever the computer overheated.

be + jittering + across/over + surface (movement pattern)

Common collocations

cursor jitters
screen jitters
jitter violently
jitter slightly
start to jitter

Synonyms

shake
a more general word for any kind of unsteady movement, stronger and more common than 'jitter'
vibrate
suggests a regular, rapid back-and-forth motion, often less jerky than 'jitter'
judder
a British English term for a violent, shaking movement, especially in machinery or vehicles

Grammar Patterns

subject + jitter(s)/jittered/is jittering

jitter + adverb of manner (jitter violently / jitter slightly)

Usage Note

This sense is most common in descriptions of technical or mechanical faults: screens, projectors, camera images, machinery, or vehicle controls. The progressive form ('is jittering', 'was jittering') is used more often than the simple form. For the meaning of a person acting nervously, see sense verb/2.

Common Mistakes

❌ 'The cursor was jittering, so I restarted my computer.' (describing a machine) — This is actually correct for sense 1, but be careful not to use it for people's feelings.

2.verbintransitiveB2

Definition

to move around restlessly because you feel nervous, excited, or impatient — for example, tapping your foot, shifting in your seat, or checking your phone repeatedly

Example

Jack jittered in his seat during the exam, tapping his foot against the desk.

jitter + in [place] + while [doing]

Megan jittered by the door, checking her phone every few seconds for hospital news.

Common collocations

jitter in one's seat
jitter with excitement
jitter with nervousness
jitter nervously
jitter by the door

Synonyms

fidget
the more common and general term for making small restless movements; 'fidget' is used more broadly than 'jitter'
pace
specifically walking back and forth, a stronger and more visible form of restlessness than 'jitter'
twitch
a sudden, quick, involuntary movement of a body part, which can look similar to jittering

Antonyms

sit still
opposite of restless movement; staying calm and motionless
relax
to release tension and stop feeling the need to move nervously

Grammar Patterns

subject + jitter(s)/jittered/is jittering

jitter + preposition (with excitement / with nervousness)

jitter + adverb (jitter nervously / jitter impatiently)

Usage Note

The verb 'jitter' (sense 2) describes visible, physical restlessness — fidgeting, pacing, or small repeated movements — that signals an emotional state. It is informal and less common than 'fidget' or 'pace'. The progressive form ('he was jittering') is more natural than the simple form ('he jittered'). Distinguish from sense verb/1 (mechanical shaking) by checking whether the subject is a person or a machine.

Common Mistakes

I jittered about the test results.' (using 'jitter' to mean 'worry' without physical movement)

I jittered in my chair while waiting for the test results.

'jitter' requires a description of physical restlessness, not just internal worry.

She jittered that she might be late.' (using 'jitter' with a that-clause)

She jittered nervously by the door, worried she might be late.

'jitter' cannot take a that-clause complement.

Word family

jitter
verbB2
jittery
adjectiveB2
jitteriness
nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Jitters', 'nervousness', 'anxiety', and 'butterflies' all describe a state of unease, but they differ in intensity, register, and focus. 'Nervousness' is the broadest and most neutral term — it covers any mild worry before an event, from school tests to first dates. 'Anxiety' is stronger and more clinical, suggesting a persistent, often irrational worry that may not be tied to a specific upcoming event. 'Jitters' sits between them in intensity: it is specifically tied to an approaching event (exam, performance, interview) and has an informal, physical quality — you can picture someone literally shaking. 'Butterflies (in one's stomach)' is the most informal and physically specific, describing the fluttering sensation in your stomach rather than a general mood. Use 'nervousness' in neutral or formal writing ('The candidate showed signs of nervousness'), 'jitters' in casual conversation about a short-term event ('I have the jitters about this presentation'), and 'anxiety' when the feeling is deeper or longer-lasting.

jitters ↗nervousness ↗anxiety ↗butterflies ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

exam jitters
pre-wedding jitters
opening-night jitters
pre-interview jitters

Adverbs

Phrases

a case of the jitters
battle the jitters
shake off the jitters
the pre-game jitters
suffer from the jitters

Prepositions

Etymology

American EnglishEnglish

The origin of 'jitter' is uncertain, but it first appeared in American English around the 1920s–1930s. It may be an imitative (onomatopoeic) word, suggesting the sound or sight of something trembling or shaking rapidly, similar to words like 'chatter' or 'jiggle'. The noun phrase 'the jitters' (meaning nervousness) became popular in the United States during the 1930s, especially in expressions like 'to have the jitters'. The verb 'to jitter' (meaning to shake or move jerkily) emerged around the same time, originally referring to people and later extended to describe unsteady mechanical movement in fields like film projection and electronics.

First known use

1929

1929, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb

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jitters

jitters — noun

1. a strong feeling of nervousness or worry that arises in people ahead of somethin

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

jitters — verb

1. to make quick, small, repeated movements in an unsteady or jerky way — used espe

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. to move around restlessly because you feel nervous, excited, or impatient — for

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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