to touch
Third Person
touches
Present Participle
touching
Past Tense
touched
Past Participle
touched
1
to put our hand or body part on a thing or person
transitive
- Please don't touch the fragile glass display.
- She gently touched her friend's arm to offer comfort and support.
- She gently touched the soft fur of the cat.
- She hesitated to touch the hot pan with her bare hands.
- The musician's fingers lightly touched the piano keys, creating a beautiful melody.
2
to have an impact or influence on something
transitive
- The new regulations will touch every aspect of our business operations.
- The economic downturn has touched many companies, leading to financial struggles.
- The issue of climate change touches us all, regardless of where we live.
- The policy changes will touch the lives of millions of citizens.
3
to make contact with something physically
transitive
- The branches of the trees touched the roof of the house during the storm.
- The raindrops touched the surface of the pond, creating concentric circles.
- He couldn't help but smile as the cool breeze touched his cheeks on a hot summer day.
- The tip of her pen touched the paper as she began to write.
- The dancer's feet lightly touched the floor as she moved gracefully across the stage.
4
to be impressed emotionally
transitive
- The heartfelt letter from her friend touched her deeply.
- The movie's poignant ending touched everyone in the audience.
- He was touched by the kindness of strangers who helped him when he was lost.
- Seeing the children play together so happily touched him with a sense of joy.
- The story of perseverance and triumph touched many.
Synonyms:
5
to cause something to come into brief contact with another object
- The child touched his finger to the hot stove, quickly pulling it away.
- The artist touched the brush to the canvas, creating a stroke of color.
- She touched her hand to his shoulder, offering comfort.
- He touched his lips to the edge of the glass, taking a sip of water.
- The conductor touched the baton to his music stand, signaling the start of the performance.
6
to become involved or associated with something that is considered undesirable, problematic, risky, or difficult to handle
transitive
- That project is a complete mess, and I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole.
- The proposal is filled with legal complications, and no lawyer would touch it without extensive review.
- The scandal surrounding the politician's past made him a liability, and no one wanted to touch his campaign.
- The financial scheme seemed too risky, and investors refused to touch it.
7
to handle something in order to alter or tamper with it
transitive
- He warned his children not to touch the delicate ornaments on the shelf.
- The mechanic touched the engine of the car, trying to diagnose the problem.
- The technician carefully touched the settings on the computer to adjust the screen brightness.
- Don't touch my stuff while I'm away.
Synonyms:
8
to reach or come close to a specified level
transitive
- Her savings finally touched $10,000 after years of diligent saving.
- His performance in the race touched his personal best time.
- The company's stock price touched its highest point in a decade.
- The car's speed touched 120 miles per hour on the highway.
- Her grades in math touched an A- after she improved her study habits.
9
to reach a level of quality, skill, or excellence that is comparable to another recognized standard or benchmark
transitive
- Her cooking touches the level of gourmet cuisine served in high-end restaurants.
- His performance in the game touched the skill level of professional athletes.
- The quality of service at the hotel touches that of luxury resorts.
- Her writing touches the eloquence of classic literature.
- The taste of her homemade desserts touches the perfection of gourmet sweets.
10
to mention or speak of something briefly or in passing
transitive
- The speaker's talk touched the challenges faced by entrepreneurs in the digital age.
- The article touched the impact of technology on modern society.
- In her speech, the politician touched on the pressing issues of healthcare and education reform.
- During the presentation, the speaker touched upon the importance of teamwork in achieving organizational goals.
- The documentary touched upon the impact of social media on mental health and self-esteem.
11
(of a particular quality) to become noticeable or manifest in someone's demeanor, behavior, or speech
transitive
- A hint of sadness touched her voice when she spoke of her lost pet.
- A sense of pride touched his demeanor as he received the award.
- A note of excitement touched her tone as she discussed her upcoming trip.
- A sense of relief touched her expression when she received the good news.
12
to lightly or minimally eat or taste a small portion of something
transitive
- She's on a diet, so she'll probably just touch the main course.
- The chef was curious why the customer had barely touched the special dish.
- He touched the new dish cautiously, unsure if he'd like it.
- As a sign of appreciation, he would touch each dish on the tasting menu.
Synonyms: