jumpy

/ˈdʒʌmpi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdʒʌmpi/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈjəm-pē/ (ame, mw)

jumpy — adjective

  • jumpypositive
  • jumpiercomparative
  • jumpiestsuperlative

1. easily startled and on edge, often because you are scared or hiding something yo

1.形容詞B2
釋義

easily startled and on edge, often because you are scared or hiding something you feel guilty about.

例句

Olivia had been jumpy all evening, glancing at the door every few minutes.

predicative use: subject + be + jumpy

The horses grew jumpy as thunder rolled across the hills above the farm.

grow / become + jumpy describes increasing nervousness

同義詞
  • edgy

    very close in meaning; slightly more focused on irritability than fear

  • nervy

    British English; emphasises a tense, fidgety state

  • skittish

    often used of animals or shy people who startle easily

  • on edge

    phrasal alternative; sounds slightly more formal in writing

反義詞
  • relaxed

    natural opposite for a calm, unstartled state

  • calm

    general antonym; covers both temporary and dispositional calmness

用法筆記

Frequently predicative (be / feel / get / grow jumpy). Subject is almost always a person or animal; abstract things are rarely jumpy in this sense.

常見錯誤

❌I am jumpy about the exam tomorrow.
✅I am nervous about the exam tomorrow.
💡'jumpy' implies easily startled by sounds or movements, not general anxiety about a future event.
❌a jumpy decision
✅a nervous decision' or 'a hasty decision
💡'jumpy' describes the person or animal feeling on edge, not the choices they make.

2. moving or changing in short, sudden bursts rather than smoothly — used of video,

2.形容詞C1
釋義

moving or changing in short, sudden bursts rather than smoothly — used of video, machinery, signals, or other things in motion.

例句

The old film was jumpy and faded, with scratches running down every frame.

describing visual footage: film / video / picture is jumpy

Sivan complained that the live stream was too jumpy to watch comfortably.

too jumpy + to-infinitive expressing the resulting problem

同義詞
  • jerky

    closest match for sudden, uneven motion; everyday register

  • shaky

    more about trembling than abrupt jumps; often used of camera work

  • choppy

    common for video or audio that stops and starts

反義詞
  • smooth

    natural opposite for steady, even motion

  • steady

    emphasises consistency over time

用法筆記

Subject is typically a moving image, recording, vehicle ride, signal, or graph. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense never describes a person's emotional state.

常見錯誤

❌The cat ran jumpy across the floor.
✅The cat ran in jumpy bursts across the floor.
💡'jumpy' is an adjective, not a manner adverb; use it before a noun or after a linking verb.