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Synonyms

jumpy

American  
[juhm-pee] / ˈdʒʌm pi /

adjective

jumpier, jumpiest
  1. subject to sudden, involuntary starts, especially from nervousness, fear, excitement, etc.

    Synonyms:
    fidgety, skittish, jittery
  2. characterized by sudden starts, jerks, or jumps.

    a jumpy narrative.


jumpy British  
/ ˈdʒʌmpɪ /

adjective

  1. nervous or apprehensive

  2. moving jerkily or fitfully

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • jumpily adverb
  • jumpiness noun

Etymology

Origin of jumpy

First recorded in 1865–70; jump + -y 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I didn’t want my pony to be nervous and jumpy.

From Literature

It doesn’t take much to cause tumultuous stock moves in a market top-heavy with tech shares and jumpy about the prospects for artificial intelligence.

From The Wall Street Journal

This time, the soloist was the stellar emerging pianist Yunchan Lim, who keeps to himself, either lost in dreamy reverie or, like a jumpy teenager, in ferocious attack mode.

From Los Angeles Times

But on the way to Ms. Chang’s class, Ana asks: “How come you’re so jumpy?”

From Literature

She startles and spins around, just as jumpy as last night.

From Literature