verb

touch

tuhch

verb

To make physical contact with something using the hand, finger, or another part of the body.

"She reached out to touch the soft fabric."

"Don't touch the wet paint."

To affect someone emotionally, often causing tenderness or sympathy.

"His kind words touched everyone in the room."

"I was deeply touched by the generosity of strangers."

To mention or deal with a topic briefly, without going into full detail.

"The report only touches on the causes of the delay."

To concern or have relevance to someone or something.

"This new policy touches every department in the company."

noun

The sense that allows you to feel things by physical contact.

"Braille relies entirely on the sense of touch."

A small amount or slight degree of something.

"Add just a touch of salt to the sauce."

Communication or contact with someone.

"We've lost touch since she moved abroad."

How to Use Touch

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMaking physical contact with something, or more broadly, affecting someone emotionally or being in contact/communication with them.

Common mistake

In "touch base" and "keep in touch," touch refers to communication, not physical contact — don't read these literally.

Common pairings

touch base in touch keep in touch a touch of

Word Forms

touched past tense, toucht past tense, touch plural, touched plural, toucht plural, touches plural, touches singular, touch singular, touched singular, toucht singular, touchest singular, touchedst singular, toucheth singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “touch” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

She reached out to _____ the soft fabric.

Etymology

From Old French tochier ("to touch"), traced back through Vulgar Latin and Frankish roots meaning "to strike" or "to grasp" — the same deep root that gave English the word "tuck."

Rhymes for touch

ouch couch pouch vouch crouch slouch grouch

See all rhymes for touch →