# touching

/ˈtətʃɪŋ/ (US) · /tˈʌtʃɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. emotionally moving

adjective · CEFR B1

making you feel a strong emotion, especially sadness, sympathy, or love.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. physically in contact

adjective · CEFR B2

being close enough to something that there is no space between them.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. about or concerning

preposition · CEFR C1 · Formal

about or relating to a specific subject.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. the act of contact

noun · CEFR B2

the action of putting your hand or another part of your body on something.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The movie has a very touching ending.
- It was touching to see the community come together to support the family after their house burned down.
- 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.

---

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.