tingle

American  

[ting-guhl] / ˈtɪŋ gəl /

verb (used without object)

tingled, tingling

1. to have a sensation of slight prickles, stings, or tremors, as from cold, a sharp blow, excitement, etc..

   I tingle all over.

2. to cause such a sensation.

   The scratch tingles.

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noun

1. a tingling sensation.

2. the tingling action of cold, a blow, excitement, etc.

   Synonyms:

   flutter, thrill

tingle British  

/ ˈtɪŋɡəl /

verb

1. (usually intr) to feel or cause to feel a prickling, itching, or stinging sensation of the flesh, as from a cold plunge or electric shock

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noun

1. a sensation of tingling

Other Word Forms

• tingler
  noun
• tingling
  adjective
• tinglingly
  adverb
• tingly
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of tingle

1350–1400; Middle English tinglen (v.), variant of tinkle

Explanation

When something tingles, it prickles or stings a tiny bit. Walking through a haunted house might make your skin tingle with fear. A cool breeze makes your skin tingle, and a pep rally might leave you tingling with excitement. Tingle can also call be used as a noun: a tingle is similar to a shiver or a shudder, a light sensation that may have an emotional or physical cause. An earlier meaning of tingle was "a ringing sensation or sound."

Example Sentences

Similarly, his cultural allusions no longer provoke even a tingle, let alone a shock of recognition.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

Scott Speedman is in it for the tingle.

From Salon • Oct. 26, 2024

"In addition to bitter taste, it also affects savory, salt, sweet, and sour tastes. However, AF-353 only blocks taste. Other oral sensations like the tingle from carbonation were not affected."

From Science Daily • Jun. 5, 2024

The nostalgic tingle Schoenbrun gets right is the feeling of being engulfed in mysteries.

From Los Angeles Times • May 2, 2024

But instead of being incinerated by ten thousand volts, all I felt was a warm tingle.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda