touch-up

1 of 2

noun

ˈtəch-ˌəp How to pronounce touch-up (audio)
Synonyms of touch-upnext
: an act or instance of touching up

touch up

2 of 2

verb

touched up; touching up; touches up

transitive verb

1
: to improve or perfect by small additional strokes or alterations : fix the minor and usually visible defects or damages of
2
: to stimulate by or as if by a flick of a whip

Examples of touch-up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Coach Barrel Bag Cylindrical and rooted in the archives, Coach’s Barrel Bag can house a large phone, a card holder, keys, and your makeup minis for on-the-go touch-ups. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026 Pigment fades, touch-ups add up and some dots linger longer than expected. — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026
Verb
Allure notes that clients can get their freckle tattoos touched up as the pigment fades. — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026 The restoration also accounted for previous errors made by past experts who had touched up the painting, fixing, for example, pieces of the painting depicting the figure’s mouth and chin, which had been set in the wrong place. — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for touch-up

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1733, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of touch-up was in 1656

Rhymes for touch-up

See All Rhymes for touch-up

Browse Nearby Words

touch-type
touch-up
touch up
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Touch-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/touch-up. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

touch-up

1 of 2 noun
ˈtəch-ˌəp
: an act or instance of touching up

touch up

2 of 2 verb
(ˈ)təch-ˈəp
: to improve by or as if by small changes : fix the little imperfections of
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