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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tickle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tickle. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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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