Word
touching
Phoneticstouch·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtətʃɪŋ/
UK/tˈʌtʃɪŋ/
Definitions
01emotionally moving
B1 · Intermediate
adj. making you feel a strong emotion, especially sadness, sympathy, or love.
adj. evoking a strong emotional response, particularly one of pathos, sympathy, or tenderness.
“The movie had a very touching ending that made many people in the audience cry.”
“The veteran gave a touching speech about his fallen comrades, leaving the entire assembly in a state of reflective silence.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02physically in contact
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. being close enough to something that there is no space between them.
adj. being in a state of physical contact or juxtaposition with no intervening space.
“The two houses were so close that their roofs were almost touching.”
“The surveyor noted that the two properties were touching at the northern boundary, creating a shared maintenance responsibility for the fence.”
Synonyms
03about or concerning
C1 · Advanced Formal
prep. about or relating to a specific subject.
prep. concerning or regarding a particular matter; often used to introduce a topic in formal correspondence.
“The lawyer asked several questions touching the events of that night.”
“The committee released a brief statement touching the recent allegations, though they declined to provide specific details until the investigation concluded.”
Usage
Usually placed before the noun phrase it governs.
Synonyms
04the act of contact
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the action of putting your hand or another part of your body on something.
n. the physical act of making contact with a surface or object.
“The gentle touching of the fabric helped the designer decide which one to buy.”
“In certain religious ceremonies, the ritual touching of the altar signifies a transition from the profane to the sacred.”
Real-World Examples
“When Helen Pacey and her family booked a trip on the Snowdon Mountain Railway, they were looking forward to touching the summit marker at the top of Yr Wyddfa, also known as Snowdon.” “When touching someone’s throat, it can only take the pressure of a handshake to cause serious injury, unconsciousness or death.” “Rather, it was used as a thin coating fixed onto a plastic sheet, not touching the water itself.” Etymology
From Middle English touchynge, equivalent to touch + -ing.
From Middle English touching, touchinge, touchynge, equivalent to touch + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
- 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
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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