Scratch
verb/nounBase scratch · Past scratched · Past Participle scratched · Present Participle scratching · 3rd person scratches
Definition
1. (verb) To rub or drag something sharp or rough across a surface — to leave a mark, relieve an itch, or remove a layer.
2. (noun) A thin mark or small wound on a surface or skin, made by something sharp or rough.
3. (phrase — from scratch) From the very beginning, with nothing prepared or already in place.
2. (noun) A thin mark or small wound on a surface or skin, made by something sharp or rough.
3. (phrase — from scratch) From the very beginning, with nothing prepared or already in place.
Context Alive
You bought a second-hand car last month and it was in perfect condition — not a single mark on it. Then yesterday you came back from the supermarket and found a long scratch running down the passenger door. Someone must have swung their car door open too hard. You stood there staring at it for a moment, knowing it would cost money to fix. You'd had the car for exactly three weeks.
Meanings
2 meanings 1 To Mark or Damage a Surface (Verb / Noun) Very Common ▼
This meaning is about the physical action of dragging something sharp or rough across a surface — or the mark it leaves behind. Imagine dropping your phone face-down on the pavement and picking it up to find a thin line across the screen — that line is a scratch. This is describing either the action itself or the visible result of it. You might say "the cat scratched the sofa" when the cat has dug its claws in repeatedly, or someone could say "there's a scratch on the car door" when pointing out a thin surface mark. Or think about someone who's been bitten by mosquitoes all evening — they keep scratching their arms because the itching is impossible to ignore. The word covers both intentional and unintentional contact — whether you're trying to make a mark or just reacting to an itch.
✏️ When used for itching, scratch is almost always the verb of choice — you "scratch" an itch, you don't "rub" it or "touch" it. The noun form is equally everyday: "it's just a scratch" is a very common phrase used to reassure someone that an injury is minor and not serious. You'll hear it constantly in everyday English.
2 From Scratch — Starting from Zero (Phrase) Very Common ▼
This meaning is about beginning something completely fresh — with no existing foundation, preparation, or head start. Imagine someone who loses all their files in a computer crash and has to rebuild their entire project from nothing — they're starting from scratch. This is describing a situation where you have absolutely nothing to build on. You might say "I learned to cook from scratch" when you had no knowledge at all when you started, or someone could say "we're building this company from scratch" when the business is brand new with no existing infrastructure. Or picture a chef who refuses to use ready-made sauces and insists on making everything from scratch — every ingredient prepared fresh, nothing from a packet. The phrase always implies effort and starting with zero advantage.
✏️ "From scratch" is one of the most common and useful phrases in everyday English — learn it as a fixed expression. It's used constantly in cooking ("made from scratch"), business ("built from scratch"), learning ("started from scratch"), and creative work ("wrote it from scratch"). The origin of the phrase comes from sport — the "scratch line" was the starting line drawn on the ground that competitors with no advantage had to start from.
Common Patterns
Basic Structures
scratch + noun (surface/skin) → the standard physical action — dragging something sharp or rough across something
Be careful with that ring — it might scratch the glass table.
a scratch on + noun → describing a visible mark left on a surface or object
There's a deep scratch on the wooden floor near the front door.
from scratch → from the very beginning, with nothing already prepared or in place
She lost all her data and had to rebuild the entire presentation from scratch.
Common Structures
scratch an itch → to relieve an itching sensation by rubbing — also used figuratively for satisfying a desire
He couldn't stop scratching the insect bite on his ankle during the whole meeting.
just a scratch → used to describe a minor injury or mark that isn't serious
Don't worry, it's just a scratch — the cut is tiny and won't need a bandage.
scratch the surface → to deal with only the most basic or obvious part of a topic or problem
One lecture on climate change barely scratches the surface of how complex the issue is.
Collocations
10 collocationsfrom scratch
starting from the very beginning with nothing already prepared
scratch the surface
to only touch on the most basic level of something much deeper
just a scratch
a minor, unserious injury or mark
deep scratch
a mark or wound that goes well below the surface
surface scratch
a very shallow mark that only affects the top layer
scratch an itch
to relieve an itch by rubbing, or to satisfy a nagging desire
scratch your head
to feel puzzled or confused about something
up to scratch
meeting the required or expected standard of quality
scratch a lottery ticket
to rub the coating off a scratch-card to reveal a possible prize
build/make from scratch
to create something completely from the beginning with no existing base
Example Sentences
10 examples
1
She decided to scratch the whole plan and start again with a completely different approach.
She threw out the entire plan and began again using a totally different strategy.
2
He built his entire business from scratch with no funding and no contacts in the industry.
He started his business with nothing — no money and no connections — and built it up entirely on his own.
3
The cat scratched the leather sofa so badly that they had to replace it.
The cat damaged the leather sofa with its claws to the point where it had to be thrown out.
4
There's a long scratch on the back of my phone — I must have dropped it without noticing.
The back of my phone has a visible mark running across it — I must have dropped it at some point.
5
The documentary only scratches the surface of how complicated the conflict really is.
The documentary barely touches on the full depth and complexity of the conflict it covers.
6
He kept scratching his arm throughout the lesson — the mosquito bite was driving him crazy.
He couldn't stop rubbing the mosquito bite on his arm during the whole class — the itching was unbearable.
7
The work isn't up to scratch — the client will expect a much higher standard than this.
The quality of the work isn't good enough — the client has far higher expectations than what's been delivered.
8
She baked the entire wedding cake from scratch, including the icing and decorations.
She made the whole wedding cake herself from fresh ingredients, without using any pre-made elements.
9
I had to scratch my original idea for the project after realising it wasn't technically possible.
I had to abandon my initial project idea once I discovered it couldn't actually be done.
10
The toddler had scratches all over her arms from playing in the rose bushes.
The little girl's arms were covered in small cuts and marks from where she'd been playing near the rose bushes.
Phrasal Verbs & Idioms
4 items Phrasal Verbsscratch off — to remove a coating by scratching — commonly used for lottery scratch cards
He scratched off the silver panel on the lottery ticket and won five pounds.
Idioms & Expressionsscratch the surface — to deal with only the most basic or obvious part of something much larger or more complex
Two weeks in Japan was amazing, but we only scratched the surface of what the country has to offer.
up to scratch — meeting the required standard — used when something is or isn't good enough
The manager told him his reports weren't up to scratch and needed much more detail.
you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours — if you do something for me, I'll do something for you in return — used about mutual favours
He helped her get the promotion, and she recommended him for the next contract — you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.
Synonyms & Antonyms
6 items
Synonymsscrape
similar physical action but often implies more force or a rougher surface — "scraping" sounds more painful or damaging
mark
for the noun meaning — broader term for any visible trace left on a surface, not just from scratching
graze
used for skin injuries — a graze is usually slightly deeper or more painful than a scratch
Antonymspolish
to smooth or improve a surface — the opposite of leaving marks or damage on it
finish
for 'from scratch' — to complete something, as opposed to just beginning it
preserve
to keep something in its original, undamaged condition — opposite of scratching or damaging a surface