Touch — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈtəch/

Meaning & Definition of Touch

Touch (verb)

  1. to bring a bodily part into contact with especially so as to perceive through the tactile sense, handle or feel gently usually with the intent to understand or appreciate
  2. to put hands upon in any way or degree; especially, to commit violence upon
  3. to take into the hands or mouth

Touch (noun)

  1. the act or fact of touching; also, the act or an instance of handling or controlling a ball (as in basketball or soccer)
  2. the special sense by which pressure or traction exerted on the skin or mucous membrane is perceived
  3. a specified sensation that arises in response to stimulation of the tactile receptors, feel

Touch (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to come into bodily contact with (something) so as to perceive a slight pressure on the skin

    "be careful not to touch this pan—it's still hot"

    similar: feel
    related: caress, embrace, finger, fondle, hug, kiss, lip, nose, nudge, nuzzle, paw, rub, stroke, palp, palpate, brush, graze, shave, skim, clasp, clench, cling (to), clutch, grasp, grip, handle, hold, palm, chuck, clap, dab, flick, pat, tag, tap, tip, hit, knock, pound, rap, whack

  2. to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response

    "your speech on the true meaning of patriotism touched me deeply"

    similar: affect, impact, impress, influence, move, reach, strike, sway, tell (on), get to
    related: carry away, dazzle, enrapture, entrance, enthrall, ravish, transport, bias, color, inspire, stir, engage, interest, involve, penetrate, pierce, afflict, agitate, bother, concern, discomfort, discompose, disquiet, distress, disturb, fluster, harass, harry, perturb, pester, plague, smite, strain, stress, trouble, try, upset, worry, wring, allure, attract, bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, fascinate
    near: bore, jade, pall, tire, weary, underwhelm

  3. to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable

    "unfortunately, his insufferable arrogance tends to touch even the good deeds that he does"

    similar: blemish, darken, mar, poison, spoil, stain, taint, tarnish, vitiate
    related: begrime, besmear, besmirch, blacken, blur, cloud, dirty, discolor, pollute, smear, smirch, smudge, smut, soil, sully, tar, abase, cheapen, debase, degrade, demean, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, foul, lower, shame, sink, bastardize, corrupt, debauch, demoralize, deprave, pervert, subvert, color, distort, twist
    near: cleanse, purify, dignify, elevate, ennoble, enshrine, glorify, hallow, magnify, uplift

  4. to be adjacent to

    "our property touches theirs right where that big elm tree is"

    similar: abut, adjoin, border (on), butt (on or against), flank, fringe, join, march (with), neighbor, skirt, verge (on)
    related: attach (to), communicate (with), connect (with), link (with), bound, embrace, encircle, enclose, fence, line, margin, rim, surround, contact, converge, meet

  5. to be the business or affair of

    "I don't think this decision touches you, so butt out"

    similar: affect, concern, involve
    related: appertain (to), apply (to), bear (on), pertain (to), refer (to), relate (to), embroil, ensnare, entangle, implicate

Touch (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the state or fact of being able to exchange information regarding one's current situation

    "everyone promised to keep in touch over the summer"

    similar: communication, contact, hold
    related: commerce, communion, intercommunication, intercourse

  2. a very small amount

    "added just a touch of parsley to the dish"

    similar: ace, bit, crumb, dab, dram, driblet, glimmer, hint, lick, little, mite, nip, ounce, particle, peanuts, ray, scintilla, scruple, shade, shadow, shred, skosh, smack, smell, smidgen, snap, soupçon, spark, spatter, speck, splash, spot, sprinkling, strain, streak, suspicion, tad, trace, drop in the bucket
    related: hoot, iota, jot, minim, minimum, modicum, semblance, syllable, tittle, vestige, whit, atom, dot, fleck, flyspeck, grain, granule, molecule, morsel, mote, nubbin, patch, scrap, dash, drop, pinch, part, portion, section, bite, nibble, taste, handful, scattering, smatter, smattering, dose, shot, chip, flake, fragment, shard, shiver, sliver, smithereens, splinter, tatter, clipping, paring, shaving
    near: abundance, barrel, boatload, bucket, bundle, bushel, deal, fistful, gobs, heaps, lashings (chiefly British), loads, lot, mass, mess, mountain, much, oodles, passel, peck, pile, plenty, potful, profusion, quantity, raft, reams, scads, stack, wad, wealth, volume, bonanza, embarrassment, excess, overabundance, overage, overflow, overkill, overmuch, oversupply, superabundance, superfluity, surfeit, surplus, chunk, hunk, lump, slab

  3. something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind

    "each designer has his or her own personal touches"

    similar: affection, attribute, attribution, character, characteristic, criterion, diagnostic, differentia, feature, fingerprint, hallmark, mark, marker, note, particularity, peculiarity, point, property, quality, specific, stamp, trait
    related: badge, indication, sign, emblem, symbol, token, charm, grace, excellence, merit, virtue, eccentricity, idiosyncrasy, oddity, quirk, individuality, singularity, uniqueness

  4. an almost imperceptible sign of something

    "a touch of irritation tinged his voice as the candidate fielded yet another question about his personal finances"

    similar: breath, flicker, glimmer, hint, suggestion, tang, trace, whiff
    related: inkling, intimation, scent, wind, evidence, indication, mark, sign
    near: permeation, pervasion, saturation

Related Entry: Touch (on) (verb)

Touch (on) is a different word from Touch. The synonyms below are for touch (on), not for touch.

  1. to come very close to being

    "that behavior touches on insanity"

    similar: border (on), trench (on), verge (on)
    related: approach, near, appear, look, resemble, seem, suggest, approximate, compare (with), measure up (to), stack up (against or with)

Related Entry: Touch (on or upon) (verb)

Touch (on or upon) is a different word from Touch. The synonyms below are for touch (on or upon), not for touch.

  1. to make reference to or speak about briefly but specifically

    "I do want to briefly touch upon the medieval view of the world before talking about Gothic architecture"

    similar: advert (to), cite, drop, instance, mention, name, note, notice, quote, refer (to), specify
    related: allude (to), hint (at), imply, indicate, infer, intend, intimate, suggest, point (out), signal, signify, denominate, designate, bring up, broach, interject, interpolate, interpose, introduce, infiltrate, insinuate, worm, advertise, announce, broadcast, declare, proclaim, pronounce, publicize, publish, sound, clarify, clear (up), elucidate, explain, explicate, spell out
    near: disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight

Related Entry: Touch down (verb)

Touch down is a different word from Touch. The synonyms below are for touch down, not for touch.

  1. to come to rest after descending from the air

    "the plane will touch down in about 30 minutes"

    similar: alight, land, light, perch, roost, settle
    related: belly-land, crash-land
    opposite: blast off, take off
    near: arise, ascend, climb, rise, float, fly, glide, plane, soar, wing, hang, hover

Related Entry: Touch off (verb)

Touch off is a different word from Touch. The synonyms below are for touch off, not for touch.

  1. to cause to function

    "his obscene comment touched off a heated debate about the need for censorship on live broadcasts"

    similar: activate, actuate, crank (up), drive, move, run, set off, spark, start, trigger, turn on
    related: kick over, turn over, charge, electrify, energize, fire, fuel, generate, power, push, discharge, launch, release, switch, trip, reactivate, recharge, arouse, excite, jump-start, kick-start, stimulate, vitalize, ignite, incite, instigate, provoke, quicken, stir up, accelerate, catalyze, speed (up), step up
    opposite: cut, cut out, deactivate, kill, shut off, turn off
    near: arrest, brake, check, cut off, draw up, halt, jam, stall, stick, stop, decelerate, repress, slow, stunt, suppress

Related Entry: Touch base (with) (phrase)

Touch base (with) is a different word from Touch. The synonyms below are for touch base (with), not for touch.

  1. to transmit information or requests to

    "Submit your résumé online and someone will touch base with you within a week."

    similar: address, communicate (with), contact, get, reach, get hold of, get in touch with
    related: get through (to), acquaint, advise, apprise, brief, clue, enlighten, familiarize, fill in, inform, instruct, notify, tell, wise (up), buzz, call, phone, ring (up) (chiefly British), telephone, keep up (with)

Related Entry: Touch (upon) (verb)

Touch (upon) is a different word from Touch. The synonyms below are for touch (upon), not for touch.

  1. as in note, glance (upon)

    similar: advert (to), allude (to), cite, glance (upon), instance, mention, name, note, notice, quote, specify, appertain (to), bear (on or upon), refer (to), relate (to), offer, present, concern, cover, deal (with), pertain (to), treat (of), contain, embrace, encompass, entail, include, incorporate
    opposite: exclude, omit, disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight, slur (over), brush (aside or off), reject, shrug off

Related Entry: Touch up (verb)

Touch up is a different word from Touch. The synonyms below are for touch up, not for touch.

  1. as in perfect, polish

    similar: perfect, polish, edit, redraft, revamp, revise, rework, copyedit, read, sub (British), subedit, reedit, amend, annotate, correct, emend, rectify, fact-check, anthologize, collect, compile, get out, issue, print, publish, abridge, blue-pencil, redact, red-pencil, engross, recopy

  2. as in flick

    similar: flick, cut, blackjack, cane, club, cudgel, fustigate, knout, quirt, strap, pistol-whip, birch, cowhide, flagellate, flail, flog, hide, horsewhip, lash, leather, rawhide, scourge, slash, switch, tan, thrash, whale, whip, bang, bop, box, bust, clap, clip, clobber, clout, crack, cuff, hit, knock, lam, paste, punch, slap, slug, smack, smite, sock, spank, swat, swipe, thwack, wallop, whack, bash, baste, bat, batter, beat, belabor, belt, bludgeon, buffet, bung, drub, fib (British), hammer, lace, lambaste, lather, lick, mangle, maul, paddle, pelt, pommel, pound, pummel, rough, slate, slog, thresh, thump, tromp, whop, whup, work over

Related Entry: Soft touch (noun)

Soft touch is a different word from Touch. The synonyms below are for soft touch, not for touch.

  1. one who is easily deceived or cheated

    "the kindly old woman was a soft touch for any con man with a hard-luck story"

    similar: chump, dupe, gull, mug (chiefly British), patsy, pigeon, pushover, sap, sucker, tool
    related: cat's-paw, mark, target, victim, schlemiel, butt, derision, laughingstock, mock, mockery, booby, dodo, fool, goose, half-wit, jackass, monkey, nincompoop, ninny, nitwit, simp, simpleton, turkey, yo-yo, loser, blockhead, dolt, dope, dumbbell, dummy, dunce, idiot, imbecile, moron, schlub (slang), schlump (slang), schnook (slang)
    near: cheat, cheater, confidence man, cozener, defrauder, dodger, hoaxer, shark, sharper, slicker, swindler, trickster

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Touch

The most common words with a similar meaning to Touch:

feel, affect, impact, impress, influence, move, reach, strike, sway, tell (on), blemish, darken, mar, poison, spoil, stain, taint, tarnish, vitiate, abut, adjoin, border (on), butt (on or against), flank, fringe, join, march (with), neighbor, skirt, verge (on), concern, involve, get to, communication, contact, hold, ace, bit, crumb, dab

Related Words for Touch

caress, embrace, finger, fondle, hug, kiss, lip, nose, nudge, nuzzle, paw, rub, stroke, palp, palpate, brush, graze, shave, skim, clasp, clench, cling (to), clutch, grasp, grip, handle, palm, chuck, clap, flick

Near Antonyms of Touch

bore, jade, pall, tire, weary, underwhelm, cleanse, purify, dignify, elevate, ennoble, enshrine, glorify, hallow, magnify, uplift, abundance, barrel, boatload, bucket, bundle, bushel, deal, fistful, gobs, heaps, lashings, loads, lot, mass

Word Forms of Touch

Inflections: touched, touching, touches

Derived words: touchable (adjective), toucher (noun)

Phrases & Idioms with Touch

  • a touch — somewhat, rather

Origin & Etymology of Touch

Middle English, from Anglo-French tucher, tuchier, from Vulgar Latin *toccare to knock, strike a bell, touch, probably of imitative origin

First known use: 14th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Touch

Words & Phrases Containing Touch

touch all the bases, touch-and-go, touch and go, touch base, touch down, touch football, touch grass, touch-me-not

Frequently Asked Questions about Touch

What does "Touch" mean?

"Touch" means to bring a bodily part into contact with especially so as to perceive through the tactile sense, handle or feel gently usually with the intent to understand or appreciate. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to bring a bodily part into contact with especially so as to perceive through the tactile sense, handle or feel gently usually with the intent to understand or appreciate. It has 9 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Touch"?

Other words for "Touch" include feel, affect, impact, impress, influence, move, reach and strike. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Touch" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Touch"?

There are 321 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Touch". Common alternatives include feel, affect, impact, impress, influence, move, reach, strike, sway and tell (on).

How do you use "Touch" in a sentence?

Examples of "Touch" in a sentence: "be careful not to touch this pan—it's still hot"; "your speech on the true meaning of patriotism touched me deeply"; "unfortunately, his insufferable arrogance tends to touch even the good deeds that he does".

Is "Touch" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Touch" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Touch" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Touch" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Touch"?

"Touch" is pronounced /ˈtəch/.

What is the origin of the word "Touch"?

"Touch" comes from Middle English, from Anglo-French tucher, tuchier, from Vulgar Latin *toccare to knock, strike a bell, touch, probably of imitative origin. First known use: 14th centuryt.