Touch Touched I Reach Tʌtʃ Feel Hand Somebody/Something

• don't touch that plate—it's hot!
• can you touch your toes? (= bend and reach them with your hands)
• i touched him lightly on the arm.
• do not touch anything with your bare hands.

touch

Verb Forms

1. to put your hand or another part of your body onto somebody/something
• Don't touch that plate—it's hot!
• Can you touch your toes? (= bend and reach them with your hands)
• I touched him lightly on the arm.
• Do not touch anything with your bare hands.
• He has hardly touched the ball all game.
• I must do some more work on that article—I haven't touched it all week.

Extra Examples

• Don't you dare touch me!
• He accidentally touched a live wire attached to overhead power cables.
• He did not actually touch the substance, but may have inhaled it.
• He was close enough to touch her.
• He wouldn't let me touch the wound.
• Her hand reached out to touch his cheek.
• His fingers briefly touched hers.
• She hugged him, being careful not to touch his broken wrist.
• In social groups, dolphins often touch each other with their pectoral fins.
2. to be or come so close together that there is no space between
• Make sure the wires don't touch.
• Their faces were almost touching.
• Don't let your coat touch the wet paint.
• His coat was so long it was almost touching the floor.
• The dancer’s feet hardly seemed to touch the ground.
3. to move something, especially in such a way that you damage it; to hit or harm somebody
• I told you not to touch my things.
• He said I kicked him, but I never touched him!
4. to make somebody feel upset or emotional
• Her story touched us all deeply.
• What he said really touched my heart.
• I had been touched by his kindness to my aunts.
• It truly touches me to know that I am holding in my hand a piece of paper used by someone who lived in 1745.
5. to affect somebody/something
• These are issues that touch us all.

Extra Examples

• The life of a shepherd has been only marginally touched by technological change.
• Even the most remote areas are now directly touched by political, educational and medical advances.
6. to eat, drink or use something
• You've hardly touched your food.
• He hasn't touched the money his aunt left him.
7. to be as good as somebody in skill, quality, etc.
• No one can touch him when it comes to interior design.
8. to reach a particular level, etc.
• The speedometer was touching 90.
9. to become connected with or work with a situation or person
• Everything she touches turns to disaster.
• His last two movies have been complete flops and now no studio will touch him.
10. to be seen on somebody’s face for a short time
• A smile touched the corners of his mouth.
11. to have a small amount of a particular quality
• His hair was touched with grey.
• Some of her poems are touched with real genius.
12. to upset somebody by reminding them of something they are particularly sensitive about
13. to mention a subject that makes somebody feel angry, upset, embarrassed, etc.
• You touched a raw nerve when you mentioned his first wife.
• My remarks about divorce had unwittingly touched a raw nerve.
• The article struck a raw nerve as it revived unpleasant memories.
14. to not hurt somebody physically in any way
15. to refuse to get involved with somebody/something or in a particular situation
• Personally, I wouldn’t touch him or his business with a bargepole.
16. to say or do something that makes people feel sympathy or enthusiasm
• The speaker had obviously struck a chord with his audience.
17. to make contact with somebody again
18. to reach the ground at the bottom of an area of water
• I put my feet down and touched bottom.
19. to reach the worst possible state or condition
• Her career really touched bottom with that movie.
20. to say or do something that makes people feel sympathy or enthusiasm
• The speaker had obviously touched a chord with his audience.
21. to show too much respect for somebody of a higher class, especially because you are anxious about what they think of you
22. used when talking about your previous good luck or your hopes for the future, to avoid bringing bad luck
• I've been driving for over 20 years and never had an accident—touch wood!
23. very close
• We came within touching distance of winning the cup.
• We live within spitting distance of the bus station.

Word Origin

• Middle English: the verb from Old French tochier, probably from a Romance word of imitative origin; the noun originally from Old French touche, later (in certain senses) directly from the verb.