tingle

1 of 2

verb

tin·​gle ˈtiŋ-gəl 

tingled; tingling ˈtiŋ-g(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

a

: to feel a ringing, stinging, prickling, or thrilling sensation

b

: to cause such a sensation

2

: tinkle sense 1

tinglingly

ˈtiŋ-g(ə-)liŋ-lē 

adverb

tingly

ˈtiŋ-g(ə-)lē 

adjective

tingle

2 of 2

noun

plural tingles

: a tingling sensation : a usually slight ringing, stinging, prickling, or thrilling sensation

She felt a tingle of excitement/anticipation.

It offers the palate-pleasing tingle of a bubbly soda with a much-simplified ingredient list of often nothing more than water and carbonation.

—Chelsey Dulaney

Soon my thinking cleared up, but the surges renewed—pain, and a frisson of electricity around the eye, into the cheek, a vague tingle.

—Sallie Tisdale

Synonyms

Verb

• chink
• clink
• jingle
• tinkle

Noun

• ache
• pain
• pang
• prick
• shoot
• smart
• sting
• stitch
• throe
• twinge

Examples of tingle in a Sentence

Verb

My arm was numb and tingling.

awoke to the steady pitter-patter of raindrops tingling on the rooftop

Noun

can't stand those funny tingles I get when my foot falls asleep

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Research has linked magnesium deficiency with numbness or tingling, especially in your extremities, and peripheral nerve injuries caused by inflammation.12 Magnesium helps regulate calcium levels in nerve cells, which is essential for regular nerve transmission. —Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Rdn, Health, 23 Dec. 2024

Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include skin rash, tingling mouth, swelling of the face, tongue or lips, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramping, coughing, dizziness, and swelling of the throat. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024

Noun

Unlike other plumpers, this one leaves a slight tingle rather than an overbearing burning sensation- thank goodness! —Taylor Lane, StyleCaster, 3 Dec. 2024

The juicy dark meat is flavored with a traditional sauce packed with garlic, cumin, coriander and brown sugar for an aromatic sweetness that carries a slight licorice tingle from fennel seed. —Matthew Odam, Austin American-Statesman, 24 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, alteration of tinklen to tinkle, tingle

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1879, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tingle

• tingle with excitement

Kids Definition

tingle

verb

tin·​gle ˈtiŋ-gəl 

tingled; tingling ˈtiŋ-g(ə-)liŋ 

: to feel or cause a prickling or thrilling sensation

tingle noun

tingly

-g(ə-)lē 

adjective

Medical Definition

tingle

intransitive verb

tin·​gle ˈtiŋ-gəl 

tingled; tingling -g(ə-)liŋ 

: to feel a stinging or prickling sensation

tingle noun