caress

1 of 2

verb

ca·​ress kə-ˈres How to pronounce caress (audio)
caressed; caressing; caresses

transitive verb

1
: to treat with tokens of fondness, affection, or kindness : cherish
the regiment was fed and caressed at station after stationStephen Crane
2
a
: to touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner
She caressed the baby's cheek.
b
: to touch or affect as if with a caress
echoes that caress the ear
caresser noun
caressingly adverb

caress

2 of 2

noun

1
: an act or expression of kindness or affection : endearment
when the gifts and caresses of mankind shall recompense the toils of studySamuel Johnson
2
a
: a light stroking, rubbing, or patting
a gentle caress of her shoulder
b
: kiss
She gave him a parting caress.
caressive adjective
caressively adverb

Examples of caress in a Sentence

Verb She caressed the baby's cheek. A warm breeze caressed her face. Noun She gave the baby's cheek a gentle caress.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
All the while, Jennifer caressed her baby bump in a flowing, short-sleeve, green dress. Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 14 Feb. 2024 The internist gripped the heart with his right hand while caressing its bottom with his left. Elliot Ackerman, WIRED, 5 Feb. 2024 The women cheer and caress the whale, whose mouth continues to hang open. Ferris Jabr, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2024 In the first picture, Kardashian could be seen caressing her baby bump while looking at her reflection in a glass door. Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 18 Aug. 2023 From being caressed by Drew Barrymore to shutting down Ozempic naysayers, and even lighting the Empire State Building, here’s everything Oprah managed to accomplish by Wednesday morning. Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2023 Truffled egg salad touches classic cucumber which caresses silken Scottish salmon which embraces coronation chicken salad, gold with curry and encased in walnut bread. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 29 Dec. 2023 The setting is the perfect place to enjoy classic Hawaiian regional cuisine—and to do with your toes in the sand while being caressed by tropical breezes. Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 18 Dec. 2023 In 2023, there was also a thriving reminder of a subgenre curated to caress the the egos of a rising conservative cultural tide, exemplifying how treacherously perfunctory their narratives and characters become when anchored to falsehoods of human behavior and interaction. Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 5 Dec. 2023
Noun
Perhaps the most explicit aspect of the scene is the sight of Tomas’ hands snaking around Martin’s torso for an intimate caress or two. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Aug. 2023 Some of his touches seem less functional and more like affectionate caresses for beloved pets, and a fond smile plays around his lips. :: Yamaguchi Nursery on Sawtelle, and its neighbor Hashimoto Nursery, are among the few surviving connections to the area’s agricultural history. Frank Shyong, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2023 The fresh scent feels like a sweet caress of powdery musks that swells with emotive blooms like jasmine and freesia. ELLE, 1 Aug. 2023 In between their caresses, Alejandro stole a kiss from Rosalía to the delight of the crowd. Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 25 July 2023 To add to the experience, therapists use special rhythmic motions, emulating the gentle caress of a wave. Maridel Reyes, Women's Health, 6 June 2023 In between their caresses, Alejandro stole a kiss from Rosalía, to the delight of the crowd. Lucas Villa, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2023 In Bergman Island, Hansen-Love includes a scene from Ingmar Bergman’s 1972 Cries and Whispers — a close-up where Ingrid Thulin howls in torment then is briefly comforted by Liv Ullmann’s caress, a sympathetic duet played out to the palpable strum of a Bach saraband for unaccompanied cello. Armond White, National Review, 13 Oct. 2021 Is that a caress on her leg? Dalton Ross, EW.com, 12 Apr. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'caress.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

French caresser, from Italian carezzare, from carezza — see caress entry 2

Noun

French caresse, from Italian carezza, from caro dear, from Latin carus — more at charity

First Known Use

Verb

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of caress was in 1598

Dictionary Entries Near caress

Cite this Entry

“Caress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caress. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

caress

noun
ca·​ress
kə-ˈres
1
: a tender or loving touch or hug
2
: a light stroking, rubbing, or patting
caress verb

More from Merriam-Webster on caress

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!