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
Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 30 Jan. 2026
On Christmas Day 1989, the thermometer dropped to 30 degrees at Miami International Airport and snow flurries tickled upturned faces in Tampa and Sarasota.
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2026
Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 11 Jan. 2026
Pratt also says that Rocky and her husband normally get along great and even have tickle fights together.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tickle
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Her eyes were embellished with pumpkin-colored shadow on her lids, shimmering white shadow in her inner corners and sky-high lashes that tickled the bottoms of her brows, while her lips were lined in a dark taupe hue and filled with clear gloss.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 30 Jan. 2026
On Christmas Day 1989, the thermometer dropped to 30 degrees at Miami International Airport and snow flurries tickled upturned faces in Tampa and Sarasota.
—Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
The finish brings about a near-smoky sort of unctuous tickle.
—Brad Japhe, Forbes.com, 11 Jan. 2026
Pratt also says that Rocky and her husband normally get along great and even have tickle fights together.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 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 1 Feb. 2026.
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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