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Showing results for touching. Search instead for touchingly.
Synonyms

touching

American  
[tuhch-ing] / ˈtʌtʃ ɪŋ /

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 British  
/ ˈtʌtʃɪŋ /

adjective

  1. evoking or eliciting tender feelings

    your sympathy is touching
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

preposition

  1. on the subject of; relating to

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • touchingly adverb
  • touchingness noun
  • untouching adjective

Etymology

Origin of touching

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

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.

For the tale of an emotional affair touching on issues of mental health, a first-time filmmaker gives Peet what could be the meatiest role of her career.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Healthcare unemployment has crept up since touching an all-time low in 2022.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026

March now has a six-month losing streak but is touching the line once again and notice it filled the gap from last April.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

Their experiments recreated typical lab conditions, such as a gloved hand touching filters, microscope slides, and other equipment used during analysis.

From Science Daily • Mar. 29, 2026

The al-mirajes followed in a long line, single file, the tip of one al-miraj’s horn just touching the white tail of the one in front.

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

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.