irk

irk — verb

1. to bother or irritate someone, especially through something that happens repeate

1.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to bother or irritate someone, especially through something that happens repeatedly or continues for a long time

Example

The constant noise from the construction work next door began to irk Sayaka.

direct object: noise irks person

What irks Ilan most about the app is how slowly it sends notifications.

wh-clause as subject: what irks [sb] is…

Common collocations
  • irk greatly
  • irk deeply
  • irk visibly
  • what irks [someone] most
  • it irks [someone] that…
Synonyms
  • annoy

    more common in everyday speech, less formal

  • irritate

    similar intensity but often implies a physical or bodily reaction

  • bother

    milder and more casual, often used in polite requests

  • aggravate

    slightly stronger, more informal in tone

Antonyms
  • please

    opposite effect — to make someone feel good instead of annoyed

  • soothe

    to calm someone down rather than irritate them

Grammar Patterns

[noun] irks [someone]

it irks [someone] when/that + clause

what irks [someone] is + noun/clause

Usage Note

Often appears with impersonal 'it' ('It irks me that…') or a wh-clause ('What irks me is…'). Less common in casual speech than 'annoy' — considered more formal or literary in tone.

Common Mistakes

The noise irks me very much.
The noise really irks me.
'irk' is not typically modified by 'very much'; use 'really', 'quite', or 'greatly' instead.
I am irking by the noise.
I am irked by the noise.
'irk' is stative in nature; the active progressive 'am irking' sounds unnatural.

irk — noun

Word family

  • irksome
    adjectiveC1
  • irksomely
    adverbC1
  • irksomeness
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe causing someone to feel mildly upset or displeased, but they differ in intensity and register. Annoy is the most neutral and common word — it covers any small disturbance, from a tapping pen to a broken coffee machine. Irk is more formal and suggests a slow-building, persistent irritation that grates on you over time rather than a sudden flash. Irritate often implies a physical or bodily reaction, like a scratchy collar or a rash, while bother is the mildest and most casual — commonly used in polite requests ('Sorry to bother you'). A noisy neighbour might annoy you, but the way they leave dirty dishes in the sink every morning would irk you more deeply.

annoy ↗irk ↗irritate ↗bother ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • what irks me most
  • it irks me that

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishOld Norse (probable)English

The word 'irk' comes from Middle English 'irken', meaning 'to grow tired or weary'. It likely traces back to Old English and possibly Scandinavian roots carrying the sense of 'to drive or urge forward' — suggesting a feeling of being pushed to one's limits. By the 15th century, the meaning had shifted from physical weariness to emotional irritation, giving us the modern sense of persistent mild annoyance.