What does jittery mean?
Jittery means nervous, anxious, and noticeably unable to relax. People may feel jittery before an important event, while waiting for difficult news, or when a situation seems uncertain. The word often suggests visible physical signs of anxiety, such as trembling hands or restless movement, but it can also describe a tense, unsettled mood. In descriptions of markets and investors, jittery refers to quick reactions to fear or uncertainty. Jittery is more common in everyday speech than the more formal equivalent “anxious,” and its informal tone often conveys heightened, immediate nervousness rather than a calm, long-standing condition. The related word “jitter” can mean both the nervous feeling and the slight shaking that accompanies it.
adjectiveNervous or anxious and unable to relax. It can also describe something that shakes or trembles slightly, especially from excitement, fear, or agitation.
- Feeling nervous, anxious, or unable to relax.
- Shaking or trembling slightly, especially because of fear, excitement, or agitation.
"She became jittery while waiting for the results."
"The crowd grew jittery as the storm approached."
"He noticed her jittery hands as she tried to pour the coffee."
A jittery moment is when nerves make calm feel impossible—even if the danger is only imaginary.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does jittery come from?
The adjective is derived from the noun and verb “jitter,” which in modern English means to tremble or shake slightly and, figuratively, to feel nervous. The precise origin of “jitter” is uncertain, but the word was established in English by the 19th century. Its familiar verbal relatives include “jittery,” “jitteriness,” and the more playful “jitterbug.”
Related word forms
How jittery is actually used
Chiefly informal. In financial and economic contexts, a jittery market or investor is one that is easily unsettled by uncertainty or sharp fluctuations.