# tingling

/ˈtɪŋɡəɫɪŋ/ (US) · /tˈɪŋɡəlɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tingling
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

describing a feeling on your skin like many tiny needles are lightly touching you. You might feel this when your arm or leg 'falls asleep'.

For teachers: experiencing or causing a slight prickling or stinging sensation, often associated with restricted blood flow or nerve stimulation. Frequently used as a participial adjective to describe physical sensations.

## Examples

- She felt a tingling sensation in her fingers after the cold walk.
- After sitting in the same position for an hour, he stood up and felt a strange tingling in his left foot.
- Patients often report a tingling numbness in their extremities as one of the earliest clinical signs of peripheral nerve compression, requiring further diagnostic evaluation.

## Usage notes

- Often follows linking verbs like 'feel' or 'become'; frequently modifies nouns like 'sensation', 'warmth', or 'feeling'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.