tickle

tickle — verb

1. to move your fingertips quickly over someone's ribs, armpits, or other sensitive

1.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to move your fingertips quickly over someone's ribs, armpits, or other sensitive spots, causing them to laugh or squirm

Example

Quan tickled his little sister until she begged him to stop.

tickle + person + until + clause

A feather brushed against Yasmin's neck and tickled her.

passive-like: tickled by [object]

Common collocations
  • tickle someone under the arms/chin/ribs
  • tickle someone until they laugh
  • tickle a baby
  • tickle someone's feet
Synonyms
  • touch

    much broader — can mean any contact, not specifically to cause laughter

  • tease

    can mean playful physical touching but more often refers to verbal joking

Grammar Patterns

tickle + person/body part

tickle + person + until + clause

Common Mistakes

I tickled her by making a funny face.
I tickled her under her arms.
In this sense, tickling is a physical touch action, not a way of entertaining someone with words or jokes.

2. a light prickly feeling on your skin that creates an urge to scratch or touch th

2.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

a light prickly feeling on your skin that creates an urge to scratch or touch the spot, whether starting by itself or from a light brush against something

Example

My nose started to tickle, and then I sneezed three times.

intransitive: body part + tickle

The wool scarf tickled Asher's neck during the long walk.

transitive: object + tickles + body part

Common collocations
  • nose tickles
  • throat tickles
  • eyes tickle
  • something tickles your skin/neck/arm
Synonyms
  • itch

    stronger urge to scratch; tickle is lighter and often more surface-level

  • prickle

    sharper, more like tiny stings; tickle is softer

Grammar Patterns

tickle (intransitive) — body part + tickles

tickle (transitive) — something + tickles + body part

Usage Note

This sense works both transitively (The grass tickled her ankles) and intransitively (Her ankles tickled). The intransitive use focuses on the sensation itself rather than the cause. Not used for deep pain or strong itches.

Common Mistakes

My foot is tickling because the shoe is too tight.
My foot is tickling because the grass is touching it lightly.
A tickling sensation is light and surface-level, not a deep pressure or pain.

3. to cause someone to feel amused or delighted, usually because something is surpr

3.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to cause someone to feel amused or delighted, usually because something is surprising, clever, or charming in a gentle way

Example

The thought of the shy cat chasing a fierce dog tickled João.

[abstract idea] + tickles + person

It tickled Antonia to hear that her old teacher still remembered her name.

it tickles + person + to-infinitive

Common collocations
  • tickled by a remark/idea/story
  • tickled to hear/see/find
  • it tickles me that/when
Synonyms
  • amuse

    more general; tickle adds a playful, slightly unexpected quality

  • delight

    stronger, implies more joy; tickle is gentler

  • please

    broader, can refer to satisfaction; tickle is more about amusement

Antonyms
  • offend

    tickle pleases; offend causes displeasure or anger

Grammar Patterns

something + tickles + person

person + be tickled + by + something

it tickles + person + to-infinitive

Usage Note

Often used in the passive voice (be tickled by). The subject is usually an idea, a situation, a remark, or someone's behaviour — not a person deliberately trying to amuse. Less intense than 'hysterical' or 'hilarious'; tickle suggests a quiet, pleasant amusement.

Common Mistakes

The joke tickled him to go to the party.
The joke tickled him so much he could not stop smiling.
In this sense tickle does not mean 'cause someone to do something'; it only describes the emotional reaction of amusement.
Idioms

be tickled pink

idiom

To be extremely happy or delighted about something.

Maya was tickled pink when she won the art contest.

Grandpa was tickled pink by the surprise birthday party.

tickle somebody’s fancy

idiom

To attract or interest someone in a pleasing way.

Does this blue dress tickle your fancy for the dance?

The idea of hiking in the mountains tickled his fancy.

tickle — noun

Word family

  • ticklish
    adjectiveB2
  • tickler
    nounC1
  • tickling
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Tickle, tease, touch, and stroke all involve physical contact, but each describes a different intention and effect. Tickle specifically means moving your fingers lightly on someone's sensitive spots (like the ribs or underarms) to make them laugh or squirm — it is playful by nature. Tease can include physical poking or pulling, but the purpose is more about provoking a reaction or lightly annoying someone, not necessarily making them laugh. Touch is the broadest word: any contact between surfaces, from a gentle tap on the shoulder to a handshake. Stroke means moving your hand gently across a surface in one direction, usually to soothe or show affection, like stroking a cat's fur. While tickling is quick and irregular, stroking is slow and smooth. For example: 'He tickled the baby's tummy until she giggled' versus 'He stroked the baby's head to calm her down.'

tickle ↗teasetouch ↗stroke ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • a tickle in your throat
  • give someone a tickle
  • be tickled by something

Prepositions

Etymology

Middle EnglishEnglish

The word tickle comes from Middle English tikelen, which is thought to be imitative — the sound or sensation of light repeated touches. It first appeared in English around the 13th century. By the 16th century, the word had developed the figurative meaning 'to amuse or please gently,' extending the physical sensation of light touch into the emotional realm of light-hearted pleasure.