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

Depending on the location and type of nerve damage, this may feel like pain, tingling, numbness, loss of touch sensations in the hands and feet, or inability to feel temperature changes. —Lindsay Curtis, Health, 1 Nov. 2024

Symptoms of B vitamin deficiencies include muscle weakness and tingling in the legs.1819 Evidence: A B complex supplement may improve the frequency and intensity of leg cramps in pregnant people.1 B complexes contain a mix of B vitamins. —Amy Brownstein, Ms, Rdn, Verywell Health, 31 Oct. 2024

Noun

Certainly there is beauty and awe to fill anyone’s soul, but does a chill draft blow through there as well, leeching ice into the spirit and sending a frisson of tingles down one’s spine? —Phil Plait, Scientific American, 25 Oct. 2024

Any horror novel worth its salt should make the heart race and the spine tingle, as if a great, hairy spider was skittering along each vertebrae. —Jordan Kopy, People.com, 18 Oct. 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