WordLens

touch

1 of 2verb
/tʌtʃ/
Forms:touches,touching,touched,touched
1

to put our hand or body part on a thing or person

A1transitive
  • 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.
Synonyms:
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.
Synonyms:
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.
Synonyms:
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.
Synonyms:
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: