tickle

play

verb tick·le \ ˈti-kəl \

Definition of tickle

tickled; tickling play \-k(ə-)liŋ\

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 rhythm
—Edward 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

See tickle defined for English-language learners

See tickle defined for kids

Examples of tickle in a Sentence

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 of tickle from the Web

Early Sunday morning, the President of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump, stumbled upon a some video footage that tickled his fancy, and decided the best course of action was to share the meme with the rest of the world.

— robert silverman, Esquire, "President Trump Found an Even More Juvenile Way to Attack the Media," 2 July 2017
If watching Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern tickles your pickle, then this is the list for you.

— pam kragen, Pacific San Diego Magazine, "What the fork (WTF?): The answer is more adventurous dining," 26 June 2017
Going home: Iggy and Tickle Guy, who, yes, tickles her on his way out.

— elizabeth logan, Glamour, "'The Bachelorette' Season 13 Episode 5 Recap: The Oslo Not-Accords," 26 June 2017
That Forbes story tickled something deep in my psyche.

— frank fitzpatrick, Philly.com, "Philly was once hub of baseball-card production | Frank's Place," 25 June 2017
Desperate for administration allies, reform advocates were tickled pink when Jared Kushner came to the Capitol in late March to talk reform with Grassley, Durbin, and Lee.

— michelle cottle, The Atlantic, "Criminal Justice Reformers Pin Their Hopes on Jared Kushner," 11 June 2017
O'Connell as Hannibal, an unemployed statistician who's lost his job to a calculator, juggles kindness and sarcasm on a dime; his awful violin noises never fail to tickle.

— patti restivo, Laurel Leader, "'Curious Savage' takes an amusing venture into insanity," 9 June 2017
On the second night while the mother went to a store, the teen told police Spradlin woke him by tickling and kissing his back.

— linda trischitta, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Campground worker sexually assaulted teen boy, police say," 9 June 2017
The Cardinals loaded the bases on two singles and a walk before Grichuk kept his hands inside a fastball that was designed to jam him, hocking a line drive that tickled the chalk down the left field line.

— andrew baggarly, sacbee.com, "Giants can’t bring out brooms against Cardinals," 21 May 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of tickle

Middle English tikelen; akin to Old English tinclian to tickle

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

tickle

noun

Definition of tickle

1 :the act of tickling

2 :a tickling sensation

3 :something that tickles

Recent Examples of tickle from the Web

And his hunger for their poached, fried, baked, leftover-taco-friendly tickle on his taste buds.

— bill monroe, OregonLive.com, "More halibut sportfishing due for Oregon Coast anglers," 26 Aug. 2017
Like being in a tickle fight with Jesus, Beyoncé and Teddy Ruxpin.

— michael harriot, The Root, "The Black Person’s Guide to Marijuana," 25 July 2017
Use what ever face wash tickles your fancy, but make sure to follow with a decent exfoliant like Paula's Choice 2% BHA Perfecting Liquid, formulated with salicylic acid.

— brennan kilbane, GQ, "How to Get Rid of Pimples Overnight," 15 July 2017
Gossip queen Iggy and tickle monster Jonathan then go home — the latter sneaking out one last tickle sesh before making his exit.

— ashley iaconetti, Cosmopolitan, "Bachelorette Recap: All That and a Pair of Sh*t-Filled Cowboy Boots," 27 June 2017
That meant the Tickle Monster went home with one last tickle (really?) as did Iggy. Road Trip!

— melissa locker, Time, "The Bachelorette Recap: Hot Tubs and Handball in the Norwegian Wood," 26 June 2017
One seemingly serial-killer-in-the-making tickles her.

— roxane gay, Marie Claire, "'The Bachelorette' Is a Necessary Shift in the Conversation About Black Womanhood," 22 May 2017
Baby lap time Introduce your walking-age child to books, songs, rhymes, tickles and more to the joys of reading in a positive and fun atmosphere. 1:30 or 2:30 p.m. In this location until the Cleveland Park Library re-opens.

— Washington Post, "Community and cultural events in the District, April 27-May 4, 2017," 26 Apr. 2017
Regularly scheduled tickle-fight at Camp #Deadpool is still on.

— rebecca keegan, HWD, "The Oscars Went Tap-Dancing into History Today," 24 Jan. 2017

First Known Use of tickle

1801

TICKLE Defined for English Language Learners

tickle

play

verb

Definition of tickle for English Language Learners

: to try to make (someone) laugh by lightly touching a very sensitive part of the body with your fingers, a feather, etc.
: to have or cause a slightly uncomfortable feeling on a part of your body
: to please or amuse (someone or something)

TICKLE Defined for Kids

tickle

play

verb tick·le \ ˈti-kəl \

Definition of tickle for Students

tickled; tickling

1 :to have a tingling or prickling sensation

My nose tickles.

2 :to touch (a body part) lightly so as to cause laughter or jerky movements

I tickled the baby's feet.

3 :to excite or stir up agreeably

This food tickles my taste buds.

4 :amuse 2

… Avery was tickled to find himself so wet …
—E. B. White, Charlotte's Web.

tickle

noun

Definition of tickle for Students

:a tingling or prickling sensation

Medical Dictionary

tickle

play

verb tick·le \ ˈtik-əl \

medical Definition of tickle

tickled; tickling play \-(ə-)liŋ\

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

noun

medical Definition of tickle

1 :the act of tickling

2 :a tickling sensation

a cough is a reflex to a tickle in the throat
—Karl Menninger

3 :something that tickles

Learn More about tickle

See words that rhyme with tickle Spanish Central: Translation of tickle Nglish: Translation of tickle for Spanish speakers

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tickle

Definition of tickle

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Examples of tickle in a Sentence

Recent Examples of tickle from the Web

Origin and Etymology of tickle

tickle

Definition of tickle

Recent Examples of tickle from the Web

First Known Use of tickle

Phrases Related to TICKLE

Related Phrases

TICKLE Defined for English Language Learners

tickle

Definition of tickle for English Language Learners

TICKLE Defined for Kids

tickle

Definition of tickle for Students

tickle

Definition of tickle for Students

Medical Dictionary

tickle

medical Definition of tickle

tickle

medical Definition of tickle

Learn More about tickle

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