touch
Americanverb (used with object)
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touches,
present (3rd person singular)
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touched,
past participle, past
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touching
present participle
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to put the hand, finger, etc., on or into contact with (something) to feel it.
He touched the iron cautiously.
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to come into contact with and perceive (something), as the hand or the like does.
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to bring (the hand, finger, etc., or something held) into contact with something.
She touched a match to the papers.
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to give a slight tap or pat to with the hand, finger, etc.; strike or hit gently or lightly.
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to come into or be in contact with.
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Geometry. (of a line or surface) to be tangent to.
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to be adjacent to or border on.
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to come up to; reach; attain.
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to attain equality with; compare with (usually used with a negative).
a style that cannot touch that of Shakespeare.
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to mark by strokes of the brush, pencil, or the like.
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to mark or relieve slightly, as with color.
a gray dress touched with blue.
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to stop at (a place), as a ship.
The ship touched shore several times during the cruise.
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to treat or affect in some way by contact.
- Synonyms:
- impress
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to affect as if by contact; tinge; imbue.
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to affect with some feeling or emotion, especially tenderness, pity, gratitude, etc..
Their sufferings touched his heart.
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to handle, use, or have to do with in any way (usually used with a negative).
She can't touch the money until she's 21.
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to eat or drink; consume; taste (usually used with a negative).
He won't touch another drink.
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to lay hands on, often in a violent manner.
Don't you touch this child!
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to deal with or treat in speech or writing.
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to refer or allude to.
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to pertain or relate to.
a critic in all matters touching the kitchen.
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to be a matter of importance to; make a difference to; affect.
This grave decision touches all of us.
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Metallurgy. to stamp (metal) as being of standard purity.
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Slang. to apply to for money, or succeed in getting money from.
He touched me for five dollars.
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Slang. to steal from.
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Archaic.
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to strike the strings, keys, etc., of (a musical instrument) so as to cause it to sound.
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to play or perform (an air, notes, etc.) on a musical instrument.
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verb (used without object)
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touches,
present (3rd person singular)
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touched,
past participle, past
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touching
present participle
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to place the hand, finger, etc., on or in contact with something.
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to come into or be in contact.
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to make a stop or a short call at a place, as a ship or those on board (usually followed byat ).
noun
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touches
plural
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the act or state of touching; state or fact of being touched.
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that sense by which anything material is perceived by means of physical contact.
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the quality of something touched that imparts a sensation.
an object with a slimy touch.
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a coming into or being in contact.
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mental or moral perception, sensitivity, or understanding.
He has a marvelous touch in dealing with people.
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ability, skill, or dexterity; knack.
to lose one's touch.
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Fencing. the contact of the point of a foil or épée or the point or edge of the blade of a saber with a specified portion of the opponent's body, counting one point for the scorer.
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close communication, agreement, sympathy, or the like.
to be out of touch with reality; Let's keep in touch.
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a slight stroke or blow.
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a slight attack, as of illness or disease.
a touch of rheumatism.
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a slight added action or effort in doing or completing any piece of work.
to provide the finishing touches.
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a special detail or feature.
The berries macerated in extra virgin olive oil were a nice touch that elevated the custard dessert plate.
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manner of execution in artistic work.
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the act or manner of touching or fingering a keyboard instrument.
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the mode of action of the keys of an instrument, as of a piano or typewriter.
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Change Ringing. a partial series of changes on a peal of bells.
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a stroke or dash, as with a brush, pencil, or pen.
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a slight amount of some quality, attribute, etc..
a touch of sarcasm in his voice.
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a slight quantity or degree.
a touch of salt.
- Synonyms:
- suggestion, trace, hint
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a distinguishing characteristic or trait.
the touch of the master.
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quality or kind in general.
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an act of testing something.
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something that serves as a test; touchstone.
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Slang.
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the act of approaching someone for money as a gift or a loan.
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the obtaining of money in this manner.
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the money obtained.
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a person considered from the standpoint of the relative ease with which they will give or lend money.
I can always hit him for ten—he's an easy touch.
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Slang. theft.
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Metallurgy.
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an official mark put upon precious metal after testing to indicate its purity.
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a die, stamp, or the like for impressing such a mark.
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an identifying mark impressed on pewter by its maker.
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Soccer. the area outside the touchlines.
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Rugby. either of the touchlines or the area outside of the touchlines.
verb phrase
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touch down (of an airplane) to come into contact with the ground; land.
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touch up
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to make minor changes or improvements in the appearance of.
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to modify or improve (a painting, photograph, etc.) by adding small strokes or making slight changes.
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to rouse by or as if by striking.
This should touch up your memory.
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touch off
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to represent or characterize precisely.
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to cause to ignite or explode.
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to give rise to; initiate.
This incident will touch off another crisis.
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touch on / upon
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to mention a subject briefly or casually; treat of in passing.
In his lecture he touched on the major aspects of the controversy.
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to come close to; approach.
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to relate or pertain to.
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idioms
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touch base. see touch base.
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put the touch on, to try to borrow money from.
Willie put the touch on me for another ten last night.
noun
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the sense by which the texture and other qualities of objects can be experienced when they come in contact with a part of the body surface, esp the tips of the fingers
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the quality of an object as perceived by this sense; feel; feeling
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the act or an instance of something coming into contact with the body
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a gentle push, tap, or caress
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a small amount; hint
a touch of sarcasm
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a noticeable effect; influence
the house needed a woman's touch
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any slight stroke or mark
with a touch of his brush he captured the scene
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characteristic manner or style
the artist had a distinctive touch
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a detail of some work, esp a literary or artistic work
she added a few finishing touches to the book
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a slight attack, as of a disease
a touch of bronchitis
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a specific ability or facility
the champion appeared to have lost his touch
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the state of being aware of a situation or in contact with someone
to get in touch with someone
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the state of being in physical contact
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a trial or test (esp in the phrase put to the touch )
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rugby soccer the area outside the touchlines, beyond which the ball is out of play (esp in the phrase in touch )
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archaic
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an official stamp on metal indicating standard purity
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Now usually called: hallmark. the die stamp used to apply this mark
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a scoring hit in competitive fencing
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an estimate of the amount of gold in an alloy as obtained by use of a touchstone
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the technique of fingering a keyboard instrument
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the quality of the action of a keyboard instrument with regard to the relative ease with which the keys may be depressed
this piano has a nice touch
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Leisure:Bell-ringing any series of changes where the permutations are fewer in number than for a peal
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slang
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the act of asking for money as a loan or gift, often by devious means
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the money received in this way
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a person asked for money in this way
he was an easy touch
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verb
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(tr) to cause or permit a part of the body to come into contact with
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(tr) to tap, feel, or strike, esp with the hand
don't touch the cake!
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to come or cause (something) to come into contact with (something else)
their hands touched briefly
he touched the match to the fuse
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(intr) to be in contact
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(tr; usually used with a negative) to take hold of (a person or thing), esp in violence
don't touch the baby!
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to be adjacent to (each other)
the two properties touch
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(tr) to move or disturb by handling
someone's touched my desk
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(tr) to have an effect on
the war scarcely touched our town
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(tr) to produce an emotional response in
his sad story touched her
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(tr) to affect; concern
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(tr; usually used with a negative) to partake of, eat, or drink
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(tr; usually used with a negative) to handle or deal with
I wouldn't touch that business
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to allude (to) briefly or in passing
the speech touched on several subjects
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(tr) to tinge or tint slightly
brown hair touched with gold
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(tr) to spoil or injure slightly
blackfly touched the flowers
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(tr) to mark, as with a brush or pen
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(tr) to compare to in quality or attainment; equal or match
there's no-one to touch him
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(tr) to reach or attain
he touched the high point in his career
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(intr) to dock or stop briefly
the ship touches at Tenerife
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slang (tr) to ask for a loan or gift of money from
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rare
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to finger (the keys or strings of an instrument)
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to play (a tune, piece of music, etc) in this way
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to make contact See base 1
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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touchabilitynoun
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touchablenessnoun
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touchernoun
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intertouchverb (used without object)
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touchableadjective
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touchlessadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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touchsimple
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touchessimple
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have touchedperfect
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has touchedperfect
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am touchingprogressive
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are touchingprogressive
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is touchingprogressive
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have been touchingperfect progressive
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has been touchingperfect progressive
Past
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touchedsimple
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had touchedperfect
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was touchingprogressive
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were touchingprogressive
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had been touchingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of touch
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English verb to(u)chen, from Old French tochier, from unattested Vulgar Latin toccāre “to knock, strike, touch,” of expressive origin; noun partly continuing Middle English touche “state or act of touching,” from Old French, derivative of tochier, and partly derivative of the Middle English verb
Explanation
To touch is to come in contact with something, especially using your fingers. When your friend dares you to touch her pet spider, you'll find out what's stronger — your fear of spiders or your fear of looking like a wimp. The verb touch also means to emotionally affect. At your grandparents' fiftieth anniversary party, it might touch you to see how much they clearly still love each other. The noun touch can mean a hint of something, or just a small amount. You might have a touch of a cold, but it isn't enough to keep you home in bed.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
It's a touch surreal that, at the end of another game when Scotland failed to score, there is a lot to be hopeful about in the men who are there to supply the goals.
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026
This week saw Treasury rates touch fresh multiyear highs.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 26, 2026
Although they disagreed, Amodei and Tallinn stayed in touch.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
Just when you think you’ve made it through, the exhibition has one last gruesome touch: To escape, you have to push your way through a set of bloody butcher curtains.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
I asked, reaching out to touch the handlebars of the bicycle.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
“We are waiting to give birth to ourselves,” Gloria Steinem writes in “An Unexpected Life,” a memoir that touches only lightly on events from the personal life of the celebrated feminist.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
Sansone also opened up about the vision behind their celebration, explaining that she wanted to strike a balance between classic elegance and more playful touches.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 22, 2026
Camilo Duran, playing through the middle ahead of Kasper Hogh, had eight touches of the ball.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
Cardoso said he obsessively tweaked dishes daily, aiming to find finishing touches that could separate Skywalker Grill as a museum restaurant and allow it to stand as a destination of its own.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026
She just barely touches my cheek as she looks at the side of my nose.
From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell
A pause in the oil rally helped cool down the bonds selloff, after yields touched historic highs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
“Hoffa” is very different from the other films that you directed both before and after, which are mostly comedies touched by dark cynicism.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
The two-year yield touched 4.744%, its highest intraday yield since July 2024, as markets grew more confident the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates to fight inflation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026
The bond veteran touched on another sticky point for markets — the amount of AI and hyperscaler-related bonds being issued by companies.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026
Clarke had also touched my sweater when she hugged me.
From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows
The early signs suggested Itauma had the measure of his opponent, with Hrgovic touching the canvas in the second round and conceding that he was "outboxed" early on.
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026
There is something almost touching about the literalism.
From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026
None of the speakers witnessed the alleged inappropriate touching of a student.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
The depiction of family solidarity in the face of hardship is touching, and to Ms. Lee’s credit she portrays it simply, without smarminess.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026
Now there were some peas touching his squash.
From "All About Sam" by Lois Lowry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
