plural fidgets
1
: uneasiness or restlessness as shown by nervous movements
—usually used in the phrase the fidgets
got the fidgets in church
a case of the fidgets
2
[fidget entry 2]
: someone who fidgets
"I was a very energetic child and my mother looked for outlets for that energy. I was a fidget," she [Monica Mason] says.—
Nick Clark
Nick Clark3
: something (such as a toy) that is designed to be held and manipulated (as to decrease stress and anxiety)
For a child with tactile difficulties, … give the child a fidget, or toy, during seated activities.—Vrinda Murphy
Vrinda MurphyYou've probably seen the kid spinning a thing that looks like a miniature alien spaceship on his thumb and wondered what that was all about. Or maybe you've noticed a co-worker secretly fiddling with a cube with buttons on it under the conference table. These odd-shaped, oddly addictive objects—designed to let you channel extra energy into your fingers as you go about your day—are fidgets.—Ariana Eunjung Cha
Ariana Eunjung ChaSenior care facilities have found that residents with dementia enjoy using fidget spinners to occupy their hands, calm their minds, and redirect attention.—Houston Defender
Houston DefenderBesides being fun to hold and squeeze, slime is also a useful fidget toy that can alleviate anxiety and help kids stay on task, Palmer said.—Cameron Morsberger
Cameron Morsberger
fidgeted; fidgeting; fidgets
: to move or act restlessly or nervously
: to cause to move or act nervously
Synonyms
Examples of fidget in a Sentence
Noun
one dental patient in the waiting room had a bad case of the fidgets
Verb
He was constantly fidgeting in his chair.
small children are likely to fidget in church
Recent Examples on the Web
Charlie Campbell / Jakarta, TIME, 14 Oct. 2024
As a treat, consider exchanging costumes for a token gift such as a fidget, stamps, or a small Play-Doh.
—Sarah Scott, Parents, 17 Oct. 2024
Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
Hands that had never fidgeted were suddenly restless, moving back and forth.
—Sage Mehta, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fidget 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
At Prabowo’s ranch in the hills south of Jakarta, 400 young men in crewcuts and oil green uniforms fidget in an amphitheater as the Dutch war epic The East plays overhead.
—Charlie Campbell / Jakarta, TIME, 14 Oct. 2024
As a treat, consider exchanging costumes for a token gift such as a fidget, stamps, or a small Play-Doh.
—Sarah Scott, Parents, 17 Oct. 2024
Verb
Movements should be purposeful and calm, avoiding fidgeting, which can project anxiety or lack of control.
—Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
Hands that had never fidgeted were suddenly restless, moving back and forth.
—Sage Mehta, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fidget
Articles Related to fidget
Dictionary Entries Near fidget
Cite this Entry
“Fidget.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fidget. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fidget
1 of 2 noun
fidg·et
ˈfij-ət 
1
plural
: restlessness as shown by nervous movements
2
: one that fidgets
fidgety
adjective
-ət-ē
fidget
2 of 2 verb
: to move or act nervously or restlessly
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share