ENGLISH
REFERENCE

touching

n.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈtətʃɪŋ// UK //tˈʌtʃɪŋ// touch·ing

n. making you feel a strong emotion, especially sadness or sympathy. You use this when something is sweet or kind in a way that moves your heart.

n. eliciting a strong emotional response, particularly one of sympathy, tenderness, or pathos.


SIMPLE

The movie has a very touching ending.

CONTEXTUAL

It was touching to see the community come together to support the family after their house burned down.

COMPLEX

The author’s touching tribute to her late mentor captured the profound influence he had on a generation of writers, leaving few readers unmoved by the final chapter.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English touchynge, equivalent to touch + -ing.

Etymology 2

From Middle English touching, touchinge, touchynge, equivalent to touch + -ing.

Usage

Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun or as a predicative adjective after a linking verb.

Pitfall

I am very touching by the storyI am very touched by the storyLearners often confuse the -ing adjective (the cause of the feeling) with the -ed adjective (the person experiencing the feeling).

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