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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Stephen Farber, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2025
There’s a certain je ne se quais about the character's foul-mouthed antics that have tickled audiences to their rotten cores.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 15 June 2025
Robert Finch
june 18, Literary Hub, 18 June 2025
His nephew recalled a soft side, his uncle picking him up and giving him a good tickle.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for tickle
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Verb
Others are more tickled by his celebrity status and seem eager to hang out with him.
—Stephen Farber, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2025
There’s a certain je ne se quais about the character's foul-mouthed antics that have tickled audiences to their rotten cores.
—Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 15 June 2025
Noun
In the old days there used to be heavy runs of squid in the tickle in late summer, which the local residents gathered and dried.
—Robert Finch
june 18, Literary Hub, 18 June 2025
His nephew recalled a soft side, his uncle picking him up and giving him a good tickle.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for tickle
Cite this Entry
“Tickle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tickle. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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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