irritate

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /ˈɪrɪteɪt/

• Audio (US)

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Verb

Plain form irritate

Third-person singular irritates

Past tense irritated

Past participle irritated

Present participle irritating

1. (transitive) If you irritate someone, you make them a little angry.

   My brother often pokes me and it really irritates me.

2. (medicine) (transitive) The act of causing swelling, itching, redness or pain to the body.

   A bite from an insect is likely to irritate you.

Related words

• irritant
• irritation