squirm
verb /skwɜːm/
/skwɜːrm/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they squirm | /skwɜːm/ /skwɜːrm/ |
| he / she / it squirms | /skwɜːmz/ /skwɜːrmz/ |
| past simple squirmed | /skwɜːmd/ /skwɜːrmd/ |
| past participle squirmed | /skwɜːmd/ /skwɜːrmd/ |
| -ing form squirming | /ˈskwɜːmɪŋ/ /ˈskwɜːrmɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive] to move around a lot making small twisting movements, because you are nervous, uncomfortable, etc. synonym wriggle
- (+ adv./prep.) The children were squirming restlessly in their seats.
- + adj. Someone grabbed him but he managed to squirm free.
Extra Examples- I squirmed in my seat, not knowing what to do.
- I started to squirm out of his grasp.
- She squirmed away from his hands.
- He stammered out a reply, squirming on his stool.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- uncomfortably
- silently
- visibly
- …
- make somebody
- at
- away from
- in
- …
- squirm in your seat
- [intransitive] to feel very embarrassed or ashamed
- It made him squirm to think how badly he'd messed up the interview.
Extra Examples- The very mention of her singing made her squirm uncomfortably.
- The little boy squirmed with embarrassment.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- uncomfortably
- silently
- visibly
- …
- make somebody
- at
- away from
- in
- …
- squirm in your seat
Word Originlate 17th cent.: symbolic of writhing movement; probably associated with worm.