verb (used with object)
to irritate, annoy, or exasperate: It irked him to wait in line.
Origin:
1300–50; Middle English irken to grow tired, tire < Old Norse yrkja to work, cognate with Old English wyrcan; see work
1300–50; Middle English irken to grow tired, tire < Old Norse yrkja to work, cognate with Old English wyrcan; see work
Synonyms
chafe, fret, bother; tire.
chafe, fret, bother; tire.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To irk
Collins
World English Dictionary
irk (ɜːk) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| (tr) to irritate, vex, or annoy | |
| [C13 irken to grow weary; probably related to Old Norse yrkja to work] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
00:10
Irk
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is bowdlerise. Does it mean:
| to expurgate (a written work) by removing or modifying passages considered vulgar or objectionable. |
| to bark; yelp. |
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
irk
mid-15c., irken "be weary of, be disgusted with;" earlier intrans., "to feel weary" (early 14c.). Of uncertain origin, perhaps related to O.N. yrkja "work" (from PIE base *werg- "to work;" see urge (v.)), or M.H.G. erken "to disgust." Modern sense of "annoy" is from late 15c.
An adjective, irk "weary, tired" is attested from c.1300 in northern and midlands writing. Modern adjective irksome "bothersome, burdensome" is recorded from 1510s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Even when the people in them irk us, our social networks affect our quality of life.
At that time, it really used to irk the old-school editors.
It does irk me that some of you say he is stealing, when clearly he isn't.
The slightest whimsical observation might irk or anger her.
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