# touched

/ˈtətʃt/ (US) · /tˈʌtʃt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/touched
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. emotionally moved

adjective · CEFR B2

feeling happy, grateful, or a little sad because someone did something kind for you.

For teachers: feeling a sense of gratitude, sympathy, or emotional resonance due to an act of kindness or a poignant situation.

- I was deeply touched when my colleagues bought me a farewell gift.
- She was visibly touched by the community's overwhelming support following the accident, noting that their kindness gave her the strength to recover.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'by'.

### 3. mentally unwell

adjective · CEFR C2 · Informal · Archaic

an old-fashioned and slightly rude way to say someone is a bit crazy or not thinking clearly.

For teachers: a colloquial and often derogatory term for someone perceived as mentally unstable or eccentric.

- The old man was a bit touched in the head, but he was harmless.
- In the village, he was regarded as slightly touched, though his strange predictions occasionally proved remarkably accurate.

Teaching tip: This sense is often found in older literature or used by older speakers; it can be offensive and should be used with caution.

## Examples

- I was deeply touched by your kind letter.
- She felt incredibly touched when her colleagues surprised her with a farewell party on her last day.
- The elderly veteran appeared visibly touched by the community's decision to name the new park in his honour, struggling to find words during his brief acceptance speech.

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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.