Jumpy describes someone who startles easily or feels nervous and on edge. A jumpy person might flinch when a door slams unexpectedly or spin around at every little sound. They're in a state where their nerves feel wound tight, ready to react to anything that seems like it might be dangerous or surprising.

You might feel jumpy after watching a scary movie, when every creak in the house makes you wonder what's lurking around the corner. Or you might notice your dog acting jumpy during a thunderstorm, pacing and whimpering at each rumble. Students sometimes feel jumpy before a big presentation, startling when the teacher calls their name.

The word captures that physical sensation of being ready to jump: your muscles are tense, your heart beats faster, and you're hyper-aware of everything happening around you. While feeling jumpy occasionally is normal (like in a spooky situation), being jumpy all the time can be exhausting. It's the opposite of feeling calm and relaxed. When someone tells you to stop being so jumpy, they're noticing that you’re reacting strongly to harmless, everyday things.