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
Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2025
But Melia thinks her mom would be tickled by the discovery.
—Sam Gillette, People.com, 5 June 2025
Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 5 July 2025
Few shows can spike heart rates (and tickle taste buds) quite like FX's The Bear.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tickle
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Verb
Pop, 78, is tickled at playing such a key role in one of the summer’s biggest hits.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2025
But Melia thinks her mom would be tickled by the discovery.
—Sam Gillette, People.com, 5 June 2025
Noun
The absence of lobster traps and not being poked and prodded by divers armed with snares, tickle sticks and nets for nearly four months usually results in an abundance of bugs, a term that refers to the insect-like appearance of lobsters.
—Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 5 July 2025
Few shows can spike heart rates (and tickle taste buds) quite like FX's The Bear.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 29 Apr. 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 23 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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