tickled; tickling
ˈti-k(ə-)liŋ 
1
: to touch (a body part, a person, etc.) lightly so as to excite the surface nerves and cause uneasiness, laughter, or spasmodic movements
2
3
: to touch or stir gently
a pianist tickling the ivories
1
: to have a tingling or prickling sensation
my back tickles
2
: to excite the surface nerves to prickle
Examples of tickle in a Sentence
Verb
Her little brother screamed with laughter as she tickled him.
The tag on the sweater tickled his neck.
My nose started to tickle.
Don't touch me there; it tickles.
We were tickled by the invitation.
The idea of going to the party tickled her.
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Recent Examples on the Web
PCMAG, 15 Sep. 2023
Perhaps Someone is holed up in there, tending To flames that tickle your palm warm.
—John Lee Clark, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023
Minutes before the parade’s start, surveying the crowd of hundreds that had gathered in the courtyard of the Renaissance Riverview Plaza, Brennan was clearly tickled.
—Lawrence Specker | Lspecker@al.com, al, 10 Sep. 2023
Its moisture tickled and licked, droplets settling on eyebrows, eyelashes, bangs and sage.
—Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2023
The toddler then laughed as Pink’s dad continued tickling.
—Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 27 Aug. 2023
We're tickled by its tiny, right-size design for little hands to hold independently, without handles, so your baby can feel more like a big kid.
—Nicole Papantoniou, Good Housekeeping, 1 Aug. 2023
The elder Ayers released an array of solo records where his troubadour soul weaved and bobbed between prog’s complexity and an eccentric sophistication that tickled the meninges of fans damaged by Syd Barrett’s withdrawal from the public.
—Jason Pettigrew, SPIN, 7 June 2023
The rear-drive four-door hatchback tickled us with its engaging driving dynamics and versatile nature.
—Brendan McAleer, Car and Driver, 15 Aug. 2023
Nicole Harris, Parents, 24 Aug. 2023
On game nights, the park, Square Léon, is buzzing with older men crowded around checker tables, little kids clambering up playground equipment and older women in West African dresses selling bags of homemade doughnuts and slushy ginger drinks that both tickle and soothe the throat.
—Catherine Porter James Hill, New York Times, 25 July 2023
Of these, 136 tested positive but never had symptoms — not even a slightly runny nose or a tickle in their throat.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News, 19 July 2023
Paul Reubens did more than tickle people's funny bones.
—USA TODAY, 31 July 2023
Elsewhere in the video, big sister Stormi tickles baby Aire, who adorably can't stop laughing at her touch.
—Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 20 Apr. 2023
It can be caused by many different things, ranging from a tickle in the throat to allergies, acid reflux, asthma, or other factors.
—Nicole Harris, Parents, 10 July 2023
But the team noticed something weird: Self-tickling made the other person’s tickle less intense.
—Max G. Levy, WIRED, 6 Oct. 2022
Any tickle is documented, like a stage direction that everybody else can see.
—Peter Hessler, The New Yorker, 26 June 2023
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Verb
Just consider giving it a second look if the Photoshop hints will help your day-to-day, and the LCD dial tickles your fancy.
—PCMAG, 15 Sep. 2023
Perhaps Someone is holed up in there, tending To flames that tickle your palm warm.
—John Lee Clark, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023
Minutes before the parade’s start, surveying the crowd of hundreds that had gathered in the courtyard of the Renaissance Riverview Plaza, Brennan was clearly tickled.
—Lawrence Specker | Lspecker@al.com, al, 10 Sep. 2023
Its moisture tickled and licked, droplets settling on eyebrows, eyelashes, bangs and sage.
—Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2023
The toddler then laughed as Pink’s dad continued tickling.
—Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 27 Aug. 2023
We're tickled by its tiny, right-size design for little hands to hold independently, without handles, so your baby can feel more like a big kid.
—Nicole Papantoniou, Good Housekeeping, 1 Aug. 2023
The elder Ayers released an array of solo records where his troubadour soul weaved and bobbed between prog’s complexity and an eccentric sophistication that tickled the meninges of fans damaged by Syd Barrett’s withdrawal from the public.
—Jason Pettigrew, SPIN, 7 June 2023
The rear-drive four-door hatchback tickled us with its engaging driving dynamics and versatile nature.
—Brendan McAleer, Car and Driver, 15 Aug. 2023
Noun
Tell-tale characteristics of a dry cough include a tickle in the throat and hacking sounds.
—Nicole Harris, Parents, 24 Aug. 2023
On game nights, the park, Square Léon, is buzzing with older men crowded around checker tables, little kids clambering up playground equipment and older women in West African dresses selling bags of homemade doughnuts and slushy ginger drinks that both tickle and soothe the throat.
—Catherine Porter James Hill, New York Times, 25 July 2023
Of these, 136 tested positive but never had symptoms — not even a slightly runny nose or a tickle in their throat.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News, 19 July 2023
Paul Reubens did more than tickle people's funny bones.
—USA TODAY, 31 July 2023
Elsewhere in the video, big sister Stormi tickles baby Aire, who adorably can't stop laughing at her touch.
—Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 20 Apr. 2023
It can be caused by many different things, ranging from a tickle in the throat to allergies, acid reflux, asthma, or other factors.
—Nicole Harris, Parents, 10 July 2023
But the team noticed something weird: Self-tickling made the other person’s tickle less intense.
—Max G. Levy, WIRED, 6 Oct. 2022
Any tickle is documented, like a stage direction that everybody else can see.
—Peter Hessler, The New Yorker, 26 June 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tickle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English tikelen; akin to Old English tinclian to tickle
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2a
Noun
1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of tickle was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing tickle
Dictionary Entries Near tickle
Cite this Entry
“Tickle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tickle. Accessed 29 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
tickle
1 of 2 verb
tick·le
ˈtik-əl
tickled; tickling
-(ə-)liŋ
1
: to touch a body part lightly so as to cause uneasiness, laughter, or jerky movements
2
: to have a tingling or prickling sensation
3
a
: to excite or stir up agreeably : please
food that tickles your taste buds
b
: to stir to laughter or merriment
were tickled by the clown's antics
tickler
noun
ˈtik-(ə-)lər
tickle
2 of 2 noun1
: the act of tickling
2
: a tickling sensation
3
: something that tickles
Medical Definition
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for tickle
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