tickle

1 of 2

verb

tick·​le ˈti-kəl 

tickled; tickling ˈti-k(ə-)liŋ 

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 rhythm …

—Edward 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

Verb

The sun is tickling our necks, the smell of cherry blossoms are wafting through the air, and dazzling new produce is popping up left, right, and center. —Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Apr. 2026

Just off the lobby is the hotel’s classy Gotham Lounge, where full dinner is served; find at the grand piano masterful artists tickling the keys on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026

Noun

If any of those tickle your fancy, stop at Shyboy for music, art and a drink. —Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas Morning News, 1 Apr. 2026

For Lacan, jouissance begins with a tickle and ends in a blaze of petrol. —Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 16 Mar. 2026

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

Phrases Containing tickle

• tickle someone's fancy

Rhymes for tickle

• fickle
• mickle
• nickel
• nickle
• nicol
• pickle
• prickle
• sickle
• trickle
• ventricle

Kids 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

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 

tickled; tickling -(ə-)liŋ 

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 throat

—Karl Menninger

3

: something that tickles