tingle

1 of 2

verb

tin·​gle ˈtiŋ-gəl 

tingled; tingling ˈtiŋ-g(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

a

: to feel a ringing, stinging, prickling, or thrilling sensation

b

: to cause such a sensation

2

: tinkle sense 1

tinglingly

ˈtiŋ-g(ə-)liŋ-lē 

adverb

tingly

ˈtiŋ-g(ə-)lē 

adjective

tingle

2 of 2

noun

plural tingles

: a tingling sensation : a usually slight ringing, stinging, prickling, or thrilling sensation

She felt a tingle of excitement/anticipation.

It offers the palate-pleasing tingle of a bubbly soda with a much-simplified ingredient list of often nothing more than water and carbonation.

—Chelsey Dulaney

Soon my thinking cleared up, but the surges renewed—pain, and a frisson of electricity around the eye, into the cheek, a vague tingle.

—Sallie Tisdale

Synonyms of tingle

Verb

• jingle
• clink
• tinkle
• rattle
• ring

Noun

• ache
• pang
• sting
• pain

Examples of tingle in a Sentence

Verb

My arm was numb and tingling.

awoke to the steady pitter-patter of raindrops tingling on the rooftop

Noun

can't stand those funny tingles I get when my foot falls asleep

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

There was also a tingling feeling as a heroic stranger, a quick-thinking nurse, used the drawstring from some swimming trunks to create an improvised tourniquet. —Boyce Upholt, Southern Living, 19 Nov. 2025

Consider a spine tingling off-dry Riesling here—a kabinett or spatlese from the Mosel with just a kiss of sweetness, perhaps. —Anna Lee C. Iijima, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Nov. 2025

Noun

Classically a martini-like mix of gin, vodka and dry vermouth, Hawks pumps up the botanical notes in the gin by infusing it with toasted fennel and olive oil, imparting a subtle sweetness and a gentle tingle that lingers on the back palate. —Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 21 Nov. 2025

There’s a slight tingle at first (hello, azelaic acid), which feels like the formula is doing its job rather than irritating my barrier. —Lily Wohlner, Allure, 13 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, alteration of tinklen to tinkle, tingle

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1879, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tingle

• tingle with excitement

Rhymes for tingle

• commingle
• dingle
• ingle
• jingle
• lingle
• mingle
• pringle
• shingle
• single
• swingle
• intermingle

Kids Definition

tingle

verb

tin·​gle ˈtiŋ-gəl 

tingled; tingling ˈtiŋ-g(ə-)liŋ 

: to feel or cause a prickling or thrilling sensation

tingle noun

tingly

-g(ə-)lē 

adjective

Medical Definition

tingle

intransitive verb

tin·​gle ˈtiŋ-gəl 

tingled; tingling -g(ə-)liŋ 

: to feel a stinging or prickling sensation

tingle noun