Word
ticklish
Phoneticstick·lish
US/ˈtɪkəɫɪʃ/
UK/tˈɪklɪʃ/
Definition
adj. easy to laugh or squirm when someone touches you lightly. You say this about feet, sides, or necks that feel tickly very fast.
adj. sensitive to light touch that causes laughter, squirming, or reflex movement. Also describes issues, questions, or people needing careful handling to avoid offence or trouble.
Examples
“My little brother is very ticklish on his feet.”
“The child giggles during checkups because her sides are so ticklish.”
“He remained ticklish about criticism of his early work, steering every interview away from that difficult first novel.”
Examples
simple
“My little brother is very ticklish on his feet.”
contextual
“The child giggles during checkups because her sides are so ticklish.”
complex
“He remained ticklish about criticism of his early work, steering every interview away from that difficult first novel.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “ticklish” in context.
Verb
01. feel ticklish
“My feet feel ticklish whenever socks brush against them.”
verb + adj
02. find ticklish
“She finds her neck ticklish and giggles at light touches.”
verb + adj
Adjective
03. extremely ticklish
“My sides are extremely ticklish, so I can't stop laughing.”
adv + adj
04. quite ticklish
“My neck is quite ticklish when someone brushes it lightly.”
adv + adj
05. slightly ticklish
“Her feet are only slightly ticklish in the morning.”
adv + adj
Noun
06. ticklish foot
“He has one ticklish foot that twitches when touched.”
adj + noun
07. ticklish neck
“She moved away quickly because of her ticklish neck.”
adj + noun
08. be very ticklish
“My feet are very ticklish, so I hate foot massages.”
09. feel ticklish all over
“I feel ticklish all over when feathers brush my skin.”
10. giggle because i'm ticklish
“I always giggle because I'm ticklish on my sides.”
11. have very ticklish ribs
“She has very ticklish ribs and laughs right away.”
12. my feet are ticklish
“My feet are ticklish, so I squirm during pedicures.”
Usage
Often follows 'be' or 'feel'; attributive use is common for the delicate sense ('a ticklish question').
Real-World Examples
“It's a bit ticklish, but that's normal... it's a very gentle sort of ticklish sensation, so it doesn't hurt at all,” shared Leo Lim, the manager atobot Surgicalte Ltd a technology firm that collaborated the National Centre SingaporeNCC) to develop the SwabBot.” Etymology
From tickle + -ish.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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