Itchy describes the uncomfortable feeling on your skin that makes you want to scratch. When a mosquito bite gets itchy, your brain sends a signal that something's bothering that spot, and scratching feels like the natural solution. A wool sweater might feel itchy against your neck, or poison ivy can make your arms unbearably itchy for days.

The word can also describe a restless feeling beyond the physical sensation on your skin. Someone with itchy feet feels restless and eager to travel or move on to something new. A student might get itchy during a long lecture, fidgeting and struggling to sit still. Before a big game or performance, you might feel itchy with nervous energy.

Scientists think itchiness evolved as a warning system: that crawling, prickling sensation alerts you to remove bugs, irritating plants, or other things that shouldn't be touching your skin. Scratching an itch gives temporary relief, though doctors warn that scratching too much can make things worse. Some itches, like those from dry skin or healing cuts, eventually go away on their own if you can resist the urge to scratch.