tickle

1 of 2

verb

tick·​le ˈti-kəl How to pronounce tickle (audio)
tickled; tickling ˈti-k(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce tickle (audio)

transitive verb

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
a
: to excite or stir up agreeably : please
music … does more than tickle our sense of rhythmEdward Sapir
b
: to provoke to laughter or merriment : amuse
were tickled by the clown's antics
3
: to touch or stir gently
a pianist tickling the ivories

intransitive verb

1
: to have a tingling or prickling sensation
my back tickles
2
: to excite the surface nerves to prickle

tickle

2 of 2

noun

1
: the act of tickling
2
: a tickling sensation
3
: something that tickles

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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Also available in a blood red and pumpkin orange, this board is great for counting down to Halloween, sharing the names of party snacks, or leaving a punny message that’ll tickle your friends’ and family’s funny bones. Melissa Epifano, Peoplemag, 15 Sep. 2024 Now in its ninth year, this collaboration between Sunset Piano and the Gardens of Golden Gate Park is double the duration of 2023’s event — 10 full days of tickling the ivories under the sun. Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 11 Sep. 2024
Noun
Related Articles Family picnic at California park takes a terrifying turn when mountain lion attacks child Make sure disaster plans include your pets Is this a reaction like the tickle spot on a dog? Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 2 Sep. 2024 Until that talk, Mack had been a playful if slightly untraditional dad, launching into random tickle fights, taking the kids to the Bronx Zoo, and waking them up at 2 a.m. to go see Kill Bill. Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 16 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for tickle 

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

Dictionary Entries Near tickle

Cite this Entry

“Tickle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tickle. Accessed 3 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

tickle

1 of 2 verb
tick·​le ˈtik-əl How to pronounce tickle (audio)
tickled; tickling -(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce tickle (audio)
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
ˈtik-(ə-)lər
noun

tickle

2 of 2 noun
1
: the act of tickling
2
: a tickling sensation
3
: something that tickles

Medical Definition

tickle

1 of 2 verb
tick·​le ˈtik-əl How to pronounce tickle (audio)
tickled; tickling -(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce tickle (audio)

intransitive verb

1
: to have a tingling or prickling sensation
my back tickles
2
: to excite the surface nerves to prickle

transitive verb

: to touch (as a body part) lightly so as to excite the surface nerves and cause uneasiness, laughter, or spasmodic movements

tickle

2 of 2 noun
1
: the act of tickling
2
: a tickling sensation
a cough is a reflex to a tickle in the throatKarl Menninger
3
: something that tickles

More from Merriam-Webster on tickle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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