tingle

1 of 2

verb

tin·​gle ˈtiŋ-gəl How to pronounce tingle (audio)
tingled; tingling ˈtiŋ-g(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce tingle (audio)

intransitive verb

1
a
: to feel a ringing, stinging, prickling, or thrilling sensation
b
: to cause such a sensation
2
tinglingly adverb
tingly adjective

tingle

2 of 2

noun

plural tingles
: a tingling sensation : a usually slight ringing, stinging, prickling, or thrilling sensation
She felt a tingle of excitement/anticipation.
It offers the palate-pleasing tingle of a bubbly soda with a much-simplified ingredient list of often nothing more than water and carbonation.Chelsey Dulaney
Soon my thinking cleared up, but the surges renewed—pain, and a frisson of electricity around the eye, into the cheek, a vague tingle.Sallie Tisdale

Examples of tingle in a Sentence

Verb My arm was numb and tingling. awoke to the steady pitter-patter of raindrops tingling on the rooftop
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Which is how my foot tingling became an unnecessary nightmare. Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press, 7 Jan. 2024 The local effect happens right where you were bitten, causing severe pain, swelling and a tingling sensation. Scott Travers, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 Unlike most other gadgets, robots get our social instincts tingling. Kat McGowan, WIRED, 4 Jan. 2024 What about numbness or tingling after your workout? Amber Brenza, SELF, 8 Sep. 2023 Other associated conditions are hypocalcemia (low blood calcium, which can cause numbness, tingling, and muscle cramping) and osteopenia, an overall loss of bone density and mass. Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 26 Dec. 2023 The survey found that less than half of Americans know that numbness or tingling, blinking rapidly, crying out or screaming, and laughing are signs of a seizure as well. Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 16 Nov. 2023 John Mayer’s and Ed Sheeran’s Spidey-Senses must have been tingling. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2023 Feet tingled, fingers pulsed, capillaries dilated and danced. Dan Greene, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023
Noun
The designer, who wore an argyle sweater that looked like a collaboration with knitwear specialist Wolsey, is engaged in a process that generates tingles of ASMR satisfaction in order to achieve environmental self-enlightenment through purposeful repetition. Luke Leitch, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2024 Part of it has nothing to do with organizing itself: The videos fall into the broad, wildly popular genre of ASMR, which means that their audio is intended to generate an autonomous sensory meridian response—i.e., brain tingles—that can feel soothing or relaxing. Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, 8 Jan. 2024 Sometimes her chin tingles or itches, which drives Tashay a bit batty. Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2024 Dropping the needle on Nothing’s Shocking in particular, but also much of Ritual de lo Habitual and Jane’s Addiction, puts tingles down my spine and flips me into that space again—that exhilarated state of shock. Matt Thompson, SPIN, 9 Jan. 2024 Sometimes, people find ASMR annoying or can share feelings of calm and relaxation from videos without feeling the tingles. Dominique Fluker, Essence, 13 Oct. 2023 Both carry the peculiar tingle of the familiar, and most of the time either will do. Sallie Tisdale, Harper's Magazine, 16 Oct. 2023 The essay, which begins with him noticing the beauty of a woman who is not his wife—a courageous admission that made my spine tingle—serves as a bracing tonic that reminds us not everything superficial is shallow. WIRED, 25 Sep. 2023 Without adding a tint or shine, the product was almost undetectable, except for the subtle but pleasant tingle, and the feeling of soft lips throughout the day. Rachael Schultz, Health, 12 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tingle.' 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

Middle English, alteration of tinklen to tinkle, tingle

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1879, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tingle was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near tingle

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

tingle

verb
tin·​gle ˈtiŋ-gəl How to pronounce tingle (audio)
tingled; tingling ˈtiŋ-g(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce tingle (audio)
: to feel or cause a prickling or thrilling sensation
tingle noun
tingly adjective

Medical Definition

tingle

intransitive verb
tin·​gle ˈtiŋ-gəl How to pronounce tingle (audio)
tingled; tingling -g(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce tingle (audio)
: to feel a stinging or prickling sensation
tingle noun

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