touching

[tuhch-ing]

adjective

1. affecting; moving; pathetic.

   a touching scene of farewell.

   Synonyms: piteous, poignant, stirring

2. that touches.

   Synonyms: tangent

preposition

1. in reference or relation to; concerning; about.

   He wrote touching future plans.

touching

/ ˈtʌtʃɪŋ /

adjective

1. evoking or eliciting tender feelings

   your sympathy is touching

preposition

1. on the subject of; relating to

Other Word Forms

• touchingly adverb
• touchingness noun
• untouching adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of touching¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; touch + -ing ²

Example Sentences

That said, the moment when Didi and Gogo throw themselves into a frantic hug—as if only by touching one another can they be sure they still exist—has breathtaking poignancy.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

A petite, blond mother of four, Johnson found herself deeply upset by the children, touching them as she passed and handing out pieces of protein bars and fruit she carried in her bag, Ziesing remembers.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

I would like to continue this each month, depending on the market, without touching the core investment.

Read more on Barron's

And each of Hopper’s five wives has her own instrumental piece, which is oddly touching and unexpected, and serves the purpose of offering an emotional transition from era to era.

Read more on Salon

“I said something like, ‘They videotaped us while we’re in the showers, touching us while they pat us down,’” he recounted.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• heartbreaking 
• pathetic 
• poignant 
• sad 
• stirring 
• stunning 
• wistful