scratch

1 of 3

verb

scratched; scratching; scratches

transitive verb

1
: to scrape or dig with the claws or nails
2
: to rub and tear or mark the surface of with something sharp or jagged
3
a
: to scrape or rub lightly (as to relieve itching)
b
: to act on (a desire)
used with itch
scratch the itch to travel
4
: to scrape together : collect with difficulty or by effort
scratch out a living
5
: to write or draw on a surface
6
a
: to cancel or erase by or as if by drawing a line through
b
: to withdraw (an entry) from competition
7
8
: to scrape along a rough surface
scratch a match

intransitive verb

1
: to use the claws or nails in digging, tearing, or wounding
2
: to scrape or rub oneself lightly (as to relieve itching)
3
: to gather money or make a living by hard work and especially through irregular means and sacrifice
had to scratch and save for college
4
a
: to make a thin grating sound
b
: to produce a rhythmic scratching sound by or as if by moving a phonograph record back and forth under a phonograph needle
5
: to withdraw from a contest or engagement
6
: to make a scratch in billiards or pool
scratcher noun

scratch

2 of 3

noun

1
: a mark or injury produced by scratching
also : a slight wound
2
3
: the sound made by scratching
4
: the starting line in a race
5
a
: a test of courage
b
: satisfactory condition, level, or performance
not up to scratch
6
: a contestant whose name is withdrawn
7
: poultry feed (such as mixed grains) scattered on the litter or ground especially to induce birds to exercise

called also scratch feed

8
a
: a shot in billiards or pool that ends a player's turn
specifically : a shot in pool in which the cue ball falls into the pocket
b
: a shot that scores by chance : fluke
9
slang : money, funds

scratch

3 of 3

adjective

1
: arranged or put together with little selection : haphazard
a scratch team
2
: made as or used for a tentative effort
3
: made or done by chance and not as intended
a scratch shot
4
: having no handicap or allowance
a scratch golfer
5
: made from scratch : made with basic ingredients
a scratch cake
Phrases
scratch one's back
: to accommodate with a favor especially in expectation of like return
scratch one's head
: to be or become confused or perplexed
scratch the surface
: to make a modest effort or start
from scratch
1
: from a point at which nothing has been done ahead of time
build a school system from scratch
2
: without using a prepared mixture of ingredients
bake a cake from scratch

Did you know?

The phrase up to scratch has its origins in the world of sports. In the 18th century, scratch began to be used for a line or mark that served as the starting point in a contest or competition. In order to begin or continue a fight, for example, a pugilist would "come up to the scratch," positioning himself at a line drawn across the prize ring. Up to the scratch was soon being used figuratively of anyone who was ready and able to do something. Over the years, the usage of the phrase has evolved somewhat, but something that is "up to scratch" can still be said to be ready and able in that it is capable of functioning or performing as expected.

Examples of scratch in a Sentence

Verb Will you scratch my back for me? Scratching the itch only makes it worse. The dog scratched its ear. You shouldn't scratch. It'll just make your itch worse. Thorns scratched our legs as we climbed through the briars. Careful, the cat will scratch. The dog was scratching at the door. Be careful not to scratch the table. Someone scratched the paint on my car. The little boy scratched lines in the dirt with a stick. Noun There's a scratch in the paint on the new car! The table is an antique but it doesn't have any dents or scratches. I got a scratch on my leg when I climbed the fence. The only sound in the room during the test was the scratch of pencils on paper. We don't have the scratch to buy a new car.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
And after 98 years of students scratching answers on paper, the SAT will now be fully digital for the remote-learning generation. Dana Goldstein, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Silver customers have grumbled about the shipping of the coins, saying the cases were unsealed, letting the coins fall out and, in some cases, get scratched. Chris Morris, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024 Quieting the constant urge to scratch is important since itching worsens eczema. Andrea Stanley, Health, 4 Mar. 2024 And so Massey did, scratching his future dreams onto a notecard and carrying it with him daily. Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024 Adding an abrasive can also help, but be careful not to scratch the glass. Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 Smart, kind, compassionate, and thoughtful don’t even begin to scratch the surface. Thomas Lake, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024 The industry has but scratched the surface of AI’s potential in cybersecurity. Melissa Russell, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 After being scratched from his first scheduled start of the spring Monday, Beck flew back to San Francisco, where vascular specialists at Stanford diagnosed him with an aneurysm in his upper arm, the club announced Thursday. Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 29 Feb. 2024
Noun
Ghost Town Bakery The Knott’s pastry department makes all the desserts from scratch. Brady MacDonald, Orange County Register, 8 Mar. 2024 Each parable is invented from scratch and reflects the artist’s personal concerns and private symbols. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 That campaign will take long hours as this tactical role-playing game has players building a rebel army from scratch. Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 Another approach is to articulate one’s own values from scratch, often by assembling a team of specialists (technologists, ethicists, and human rights experts). François Candelon, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024 That said, your chances of finding, say, an inflatable bed that conveniently doubles as a staircase—or the resources to make your own from scratch—is very, very low. Kelsey Mulvey, Sunset Magazine, 7 Mar. 2024 Built from scratch with the help of Portuguese architect Madalena Caiado, Vermelho Melides has already garnered attention for its bold, fashion-centric sensibility. Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2024 Eventually, the idea of coding from scratch will disappear. Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024 All the autopsy bodies were made from scratch, for example. Beatrice Verhoeven, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Feb. 2024
Adjective
The lens also has an anti-scratch coating. Eric Alt, Popular Science, 20 Jan. 2021 Shop our favorite affordable Amazon gadgets, tools, and wares below: 1 Joseph Joseph Dish Brush With Integrated Sink Rest This curved, non-scratch brush offers thorough cleaning and won’t take up counter space. Megan Lasher, Popular Mechanics, 16 Mar. 2023 The same cleaning wisdom broadly applies here—use dish soap, warm water, and a non-scratch sponge. Li Goldstein, Bon Appétit, 13 Feb. 2023 It’s also equipped with an anti-scratch brush roll that’s designed to keep your hardwood free from damage while also being compatible with carpet. Nicole Briese, USA TODAY, 10 July 2020 With an anti-fog, anti-scratch, polycarbonate high-density lens, this one is seriously protective — it’s certified for industrial use to protect against things like flying debris and chemical splashes. Elizabeth Wallace, CNN Underscored, 9 July 2020 Use ceramic cooktop cleaner with a non-scratch cleaning pad to maintain the cooktop. Cassidy Olsen, Good Housekeeping, 20 Jan. 2023 Stock up on specialty tools, like a plastic scraper, scrub brushes and non-scratch scouring pads. Maya Pottiger, Washington Post, 27 Dec. 2022 Made of oxford cloth, this waterproof, anti-scratch, breathable cat carrier is both versatile and durable. Ysolt Usigan, Woman's Day, 29 Sep. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scratch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English scracchen, probably blend of scratten to scratch and cracchen to scratch

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of scratch was in the 15th century

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near scratch

Cite this Entry

“Scratch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scratch. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

scratch

1 of 2 verb
1
: to scrape, rub, or injure with or as if with the claws or nails
2
: to act on (a desire)
used with itch
scratch the itch to travel
3
: to make a living by hard work and saving
4
a
: to cancel or erase by or as if by drawing a line through
b
: to withdraw (an entry) from competition
5
: to write or draw especially hastily or carelessly : scrawl
6
: to scrape or rub oneself lightly especially to relieve itching
7
: to make a thin harsh sound
this pen scratches
scratcher noun

scratch

2 of 2 noun
1
: a mark (as a line) or injury made by scratching
also : a slight wound
2
: the sound of scratching
3
: the line from which competitors start in a race
4
: satisfactory state or performance
not up to scratch

More from Merriam-Webster on scratch

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!