caress

verb ca·ress \ kə-ˈres \

|Updated on: 15 Jul 2018

Examples: caress in a Sentence

Definition of caress

caressed; caressing; caresses

transitive verb

1 : to treat with tokens of fondness, affection, or kindness : cherish

the regiment was fed and caressed at station after station
—Stephen Crane

2 a : to touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner

She caressed the baby's cheek.

b : to touch or affect as if with a caress

echoes that caress the ear

—

caresser

noun

—

caressingly

play \kə-ˈre-siŋ-lē\ adverb

See caress defined for English-language learners

Examples of caress in a Sentence

She caressed the baby's cheek.
A warm breeze caressed her face.

Recent Examples of caress from the Web

Her fingertips travel to the lone whisker and then caress it like a fetish.

— lisa miller, The Cut, "The Weaponized Amber Tamblyn," 8 July 2018
Norgaard and Placer prosecutor Dave Tellman contend Monroy had ample opportunity to escape Bracamontes before the shootings, and have introduced video footage from a gas station and motels showing her appearing to be caressing him and smiling.

— sam stanton, sacbee, "Confessed cop killer’s wife says he threatened to cut off her face | The Sacramento Bee," 5 Feb. 2018
These relationships are so tight, in fact, that the males spend a lot of time caressing each other with their pectoral fins.

— jason bittel, National Geographic, "Why Male Dolphin Buddies 'Hold Hands'," 7 June 2018
Older couples may prefer more intimate and erotic activities, such as kissing and caressing each other, especially when physical limitations make certain positions a challenge.

— ian kerner, CNN, "Seniors, new poll says, are still sexy after all these years," 9 May 2018
During the event, she was seen happily caressing her bump and drinking a glass of water.

— erica gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Kate Hudson Makes Her First Red Carpet Appearance After Announcing Pregnancy," 11 Apr. 2018
In her 2014 lawsuit, which later settled for $600,000, Fields claimed that Johnson repeatedly caressed her hair, sat in her lap while wiggling and grinding and forcibly tried to kiss her.

— marjie lundstrom, sacbee, "Giving gropers a break? How California state workers stay employed after big payouts | The Sacramento Bee," 19 Apr. 2018
And two more selections by Claudio Monteverdi — he, too, was in Mantua, and Rossi’s sister perhaps sang his music — had great vividness, at times caressing the text and always charming the audience.

— alan artner, chicagotribune.com, "Review: It was Italian Baroque music, and it was spectacular," 9 Apr. 2018
This teammate, Rivellino, takes barely a beat before caressing it up field to the scampering Jairzinho.

— SI.com, "World Cup Countdown: 12 Weeks to Go - The Goal That Defined the Legendary 1970 Brazil Team," 1 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'caress.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of caress

French caresser, from Italian carezzare, from carezza — see ²caress

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1598

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

caress Synonyms

Synonyms

fondle, gentle, love, pat, pet, stroke;

feel up, paw;

cradle, embrace, enfold, hug;

bounce, dandle;

knead, massage;

baby, coddle, indulge, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil;

caress

noun

Definition of caress

1 : an act or expression of kindness or affection : endearment

when the gifts and caresses of mankind shall recompense the toils of study
—Samuel Johnson

2 a : a light stroking, rubbing, or patting

a gentle caress of her shoulder

b : kiss

She gave him a parting caress.

—

caressive

play \-ˈre-siv\ adjective

—

caressively

adverb

See caress defined for English-language learners

See caress defined for kids

Examples of caress in a Sentence

She gave the baby's cheek a gentle caress.

Recent Examples of caress from the Web

His two dancers, who hold hands and caress, perform opposite Ryan and a female pianist, whose romance is implied through the camera angles.

— dan allen /, NBC News, "Song, dance and LGBTQ visibility reign supreme at Eurovision Song Contest," 11 May 2018
The choreographer bestowed a healing power to each simple human touch and caress, and dancers folded protectively into their partners.

— laura bleiberg, latimes.com, "Dance Theatre of Harlem comes full circle with stirring Broad Stage program," 22 Apr. 2018
Any type of massage in this area is going to require a light caress as to not cause pain.

— Redbook, "33 Sexy Places to Touch Your Guy," 30 Oct. 2017
The range of expression in his keyboard touch encompassed caresses, rumbles, and crashes.

— ben ratliff, BostonGlobe.com, "Cecil Taylor, 89, pianist who moved beyond jazz idiom," 7 Apr. 2018
Bruno, severely ill with malaria, barely responded to his mother's caresses.

— nicholas kristof, Anchorage Daily News, "‘Conflict is more profitable than peace’," 26 Mar. 2018
Mother's precious caress shows grand compassion towards our sorrow.

— hartford courant, courant.com, "Olympia Onofrio Grace," 18 Mar. 2018
So is Daniel Pantaleo, the man whose arms just happened to be wrapped around Eric Garner’s throat in a loving caress when Garner died on a New York City sidewalk.

— michael harriot, The Root, "After Watching the ‘Hypothetical’ O.J. Simpson Confession, I Realize White People Were Right All Along," 12 Mar. 2018
Maurice's unstoppable caress of Clive, who's seated beneath his chair, is reciprocated with an upstretched hand that promises more than upper-class English society in the early part of the 20th century can accommodate.

— charles mcnulty, latimes.com, "Why 'Three Billboards' and 'Call Me by Your Name' leave this theater critic cold," 1 Mar. 2018

Origin and Etymology of caress

French caresse, from Italian carezza, from caro dear, from Latin carus — more at charity

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1609

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

CARESS Defined for English Language Learners

caress

verb

Definition of caress for English Language Learners

: to touch (someone or something) in a gentle way

caress

noun

Definition of caress for English Language Learners

: a gentle or loving touch

CARESS Defined for Kids

caress

noun ca·ress \ kə-ˈres \

Definition of caress for Students

: a tender or loving touch or hug

caress

verb

Definition of caress for Students

caressed; caressing

: to touch in a tender or loving way

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caress

Definition of caress

caresser

caressingly

Examples of caress in a Sentence

Recent Examples of caress from the Web

Origin and Etymology of caress

caress Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

caress

Definition of caress

caressive

caressively

Examples of caress in a Sentence

Recent Examples of caress from the Web

Origin and Etymology of caress

CARESS Defined for English Language Learners

caress

Definition of caress for English Language Learners

caress

Definition of caress for English Language Learners

CARESS Defined for Kids

caress

Definition of caress for Students

caress

Definition of caress for Students

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