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
Jayson Stewart, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Mar. 2025
Rush was also tickled by the opportunity to work again with his old friend Lithgow.
—William Earl, Variety, 28 Feb. 2025
Julia Marnin, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2025
Friday has another tickle of Premier League action… but only a tickle.
—Nick Miller, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tickle
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show current usage.
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Verb
My grandfather was tickled by the connection between these ancient, distant celestial objects and the modern equipment used to make the most advanced semiconductor chips in the world.
—Jayson Stewart, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Mar. 2025
Rush was also tickled by the opportunity to work again with his old friend Lithgow.
—William Earl, Variety, 28 Feb. 2025
Noun
Grooming and ‘tickle time’ Yeh regularly groomed students in school and outside of school, according to the complaint.
—Julia Marnin, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2025
Friday has another tickle of Premier League action… but only a tickle.
—Nick Miller, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 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 12 Mar. 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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