keyed up

adjective

informal
: in a state of nervous excitement
His hands were very sure. He was confident he could do the work, yet inside he was keyed up and jumpy.Esther Forbes, Johnny Tremain, 1943
A friend called me, too keyed up to sleep.Mike Nichols, Life and Other Ways, 1988

Word History

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of keyed up was in 1880

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near keyed up

Cite this Entry

“Keyed up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keyed%20up. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on keyed up

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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