Twitch

A sudden, quick, involuntary muscular contraction, a spasmodic movement. This can be due to various factors such as nerve irritation, fatigue, stress, or the presence of a neurological condition. It can manifest in any part of the body but is often observed in the eyelids, face, or limbs. Beyond the physical, 'twitch' can also refer to a sudden, involuntary mental movement or reaction to a stimulus, such as a nervous habit, or to move or jerk something abruptly. Figuratively, it can describe a fleeting, sharp emotion or impulse.

Twitch meaning with examples

• Her eye began to twitch uncontrollably after staring at the computer screen for hours, a clear sign of exhaustion. The doctor assured her the twitch was harmless, a result of muscle fatigue and too little sleep. She closed her eyes to try to soothe it. After a while, the twitching subsided and allowed her to rest.
• The sudden loud noise caused a twitch of fear in his shoulders, a primal response to a perceived threat. He automatically looked around, but there was nothing dangerous in sight. The unexpected shout startled him. He eventually shrugged it off and resumed what he was doing. The twitch was soon forgotten.
• He felt a twitch of annoyance as his coworker consistently interrupted him during the meeting. Although he stifled the urge to respond in anger, the twitch was still there. He made a mental note to speak to them privately later. He hoped they will not interrupt again.
• The artist used subtle twitches of his brush to create an illusion of movement in the still life. This required considerable skill. The subtle twitches gave the painting a sense of life. After that, the painting started to look complete.