touched; touching; touches
1
: to bring a bodily part into contact with especially so as to perceive through the tactile sense : handle or feel gently usually with the intent to understand or appreciate
loved to touch the soft silk
2
a
: to put hands upon in any way or degree
don't touch anything before the police come
especially
: to commit violence upon
swears he never touched the animal
b
: to take into the hands or mouth
never touches alcohol
3
: to strike or push lightly especially with the hand or foot or an implement
4
: to cause to be briefly in contact or conjunction with something
touched her spurs to the horse
touched his hand to his hat
5
: to deal with : become involved with
a sticky situation and I wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot pole
6
7
: to speak or tell of especially in passing
barely touched the incident in the speech
9
a
: to move to sympathetic feeling
b
: to hurt the feelings of : wound
10
a
: to leave a mark or impression on
few reagents will touch gold
also
: tinge
c
: to give a delicate tint, line, or expression to
a smile touched her lips
d
: to get a hit off or score a run against
touched him for three runs
11
: to draw or delineate with light strokes
12
: to induce to give or lend
touched him for ten dollars
13
: to lay hands upon (one afflicted with scrofula) with intent to heal
14
archaic
a
: to play on (a stringed instrument)
b
: to perform (a melody) by playing or singing
1
a
: to feel something with a body part (such as the hand or foot)
b
: to lay hand or finger on a person to cure disease (such as scrofula)
2
: to be in contact
3
: to come close : verge
your actions touch on treason
4
a
: to treat a topic in a brief or casual manner
—used with on or upon
touched upon many points
b
: to make a brief or incidental stop on shore during a trip by water
touched at several ports
5
: to have a bearing : relate
—used with on or upon
toucher
noun
1
: the act or fact of touching
also
: the act or an instance of handling or controlling a ball (as in basketball or soccer)
2
: the special sense by which pressure or traction exerted on the skin or mucous membrane is perceived
3
: a specified sensation that arises in response to stimulation of the tactile receptors : feel
the velvety touch of velour
4
a
: a light stroke, tap, or push
b
: a hit against an opponent in fencing
5
a
: an effective and subtle detail
applies the finishing touches to the story
b
: distinctive and often effective manner or method
the touch of a master
c
: a characteristic or distinguishing trait or quality
6
: mental or moral sensitiveness, responsiveness, or tact
has a wonderful touch with children
7
: something slight of its kind: such as
a
: a light attack
a touch of fever
b
: a small quantity or indication : hint
a touch of spring in the air
c
: a transient emotion
a momentary touch of compunction
d
: a near approach : close call
beaten in the championships by a mere touch
8
a
: the state or fact of being in contact or communication
will get in touch with you tomorrow
lost touch with her cousin
We've been out of touch for a while.
let's keep in touch
out of touch with modern times
b
: the state or fact of having awareness (as of what is happening, how others feel, etc.)
tried to stay in touch with the latest research
out of touch with what's going on in the world
has lost touch with reality
10
: control of the hands: such as
a
: a manner or method of touching or striking especially the keys of a keyboard instrument
b
: ability to precisely control the path and speed of a shot or pass
a great shooting touch
11
: the area outside of the touchlines in soccer or outside of and including the touchlines in rugby
the ball went into touch
12
a
: particular action of a keyboard with reference to the resistance of its keys to pressure
piano with a stiff touch
b
archaic
: the playing of an instrument (such as a lute or piano) with the fingers
also
: musical notes or strains so produced
13
b
archaic
: the act of rubbing gold or silver on a touchstone to test its quality
14
: a set of changes in change ringing that is less than a peal
15
slang
: an act of soliciting or getting a gift or loan
Examples of touch in a Sentence
Verb
Please do not touch the statue.
Slowly bend forward and try to touch your toes.
He tried to touch the snake with a stick.
The top of the Christmas tree almost touches the ceiling.
Sparks flew when the wires touched each other.
They were standing side-by-side with their shoulders touching.
Sparks flew when the wires touched.
Their house burned to the ground, but the house next door wasn't touched by the fire.
Noun
Blind since birth, she relies on her sense of touch to read braille.
The plate was hot to the touch.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jakob Roze, Health, 31 Oct. 2025
While Zwerner’s pain and suffering have taken center stage in this trial, the upcoming criminal trial would be more likely to touch on what action Parker failed to take, given her duty to protect children, Brown said.
—Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Together the flavor is muddled, slightly discordant, but alone the Irish whiskey gets to sing, its apples and pears and slight malt and gentle touch a perfect foil to the zesty front palate of the lemon and the deep finish of the almonds.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for touch
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Gently touch your back foot onto the box and reverse the movement back toward the ground, keeping the movement slow and controlled.
—Jakob Roze, Health, 31 Oct. 2025
While Zwerner’s pain and suffering have taken center stage in this trial, the upcoming criminal trial would be more likely to touch on what action Parker failed to take, given her duty to protect children, Brown said.
—Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
His touch and his decision making is repeatedly letting him down.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Together the flavor is muddled, slightly discordant, but alone the Irish whiskey gets to sing, its apples and pears and slight malt and gentle touch a perfect foil to the zesty front palate of the lemon and the deep finish of the almonds.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for touch
Cite this Entry
“Touch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/touch. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
touch
1 of 2 verb1
: to feel or handle (as with fingers) especially so as to be aware of by the sense of touch
2
a
: to be or cause to be in contact with something
b
: to be or come next to
3
: to hit lightly
4
a
: to do harm to
b
: to make use of
never touches meat
5
: to refer to in passing : mention
the report touched upon many important points
6
: to affect the interest of
a matter that touches every parent
7
: to move emotionally
touched by their friend's kindness
toucher
noun
touch
2 of 2 noun1
: a light stroke or tap
2
: the act or fact of touching or being touched
3
a
: the special sense by which one is aware of light pressure especially on the skin
soft to the touch
b
: an impression gotten through the sense of touch
the soft touch of silk
4
: a state of contact or communication
keeping in touch with friends
5
: a small amount : trace
a touch of garlic in the salad
Medical Definition
touch
1 of 2 transitive verb
: to bring a bodily part into contact with especially so as to perceive through the tactile sense : handle or feel gently usually with the intent to understand or appreciate
: to feel something with a body part (as the hand or foot)
touch
2 of 2 noun1
: the special sense by which pressure or traction exerted on the skin or mucous membrane is perceived
2
: a light attack
a touch of fever
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