- nervous or apprehensive
- moving jerkily or fitfully
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
jump•y /ˈdʒʌmpi/USA pronunciation
adj., -i•er, -i•est.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- nervous or apprehensive;
jittery:The long wait is making me jumpy. - characterized by sudden starts, jerks, or jumps:a jumpy TV picture.
jump•y
( jum′pē),USA pronunciation adj., jump•i•er, jump•i•est.
jump′i•ly, adv.
jump′i•ness, n.
- subject to sudden, involuntary starts, esp. from nervousness, fear, excitement, etc.
- characterized by sudden starts, jerks, or jumps:a jumpy narrative.
- jump + -y1 1865–70
jump′i•ness, n.
- 1. . jittery, skittish, fidgety.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
jumpy /ˈdʒʌmpɪ/ adj (jumpier, jumpiest)
'jumpy' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):