retouch

verb re·touch \ (ˌ)rē-ˈtəch \

|Updated on: 6 Jul 2018

Examples: retouch in a Sentence

Definition of retouch

retouched; retouching; retouches

transitive verb

1 : to rework in order to improve : touch up

2 : to alter (something, such as a photographic negative) to produce a more desirable appearance

3 : to color (new growth of hair) to match previously dyed, tinted, or bleached hair

intransitive verb

: to make or give retouches

—

retoucher

noun

See retouch defined for English-language learners

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Examples of retouch in a Sentence

The photo had been retouched to remove the wrinkles around his eyes.

Recent Examples of retouch from the Web

Nearly all of them had been retouched before, several times in some cases, and a few of them didn’t even have enough material left for another resharpening.

— kiona n. smith, Ars Technica, "Ötzi the Iceman spent his last days trying to repair his tools," 22 June 2018
Digital retouching spread after Photoshop’s introduction.

— brenda cronin, WSJ, "A Century of Fashion and Photographic Genius," 1 June 2018
These photos were shot around the same time; one obviously retouched and the other not.

— julie mazziotta, PEOPLE.com, "Curvy Model Says Even She Is Fooled by Her Retouched Photos: 'Be Realistic with Yourself'," 31 Jan. 2018
Not staged, not lit, not cropped, not retouched, the color photographs of this American master are feats of dispassionate representation.

— New York Times, "23 Art Exhibitions to View in N.Y.C. This Weekend," 17 May 2018
That's why many brands have decided lately to stop retouching images, and also why brands are working with more diverse groups of people for ad campaigns.

— rosemary donahue, Allure, "Target's New Swimwear Campaign Is Totally Unretouched and Utterly Gorgeous," 18 Mar. 2018
The stock image company has written the new rule into their contract for photographers and noted that photographers who retouch bodies in their photos will be in breach of their contract.

— audrey gorden, RedEye Chicago, "Weekend cheat sheet: 5 buzzworthy topics people will be talking about," 6 Oct. 2017
Loving that Miley isn't putting up with people retouching her body hair and sending such an amazing message about acceptance in the process.

— noelle devoe, Seventeen, "Miley Cyrus Doesn't Want Anyone Photoshopping Out Her Armpit Hair," 24 June 2015
The hot effusions are continually retouching the tropical landscape, a haven for native birds and endemic species such as a meat-eating caterpillar, a lava-loving cricket and the world's rarest goose.

— andrea sachs, chicagotribune.com, "This summer, stop by the 23 U.S. locales that have risen to become UNESCO World Heritage sites," 4 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'retouch.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of retouch

French retoucher, from Middle French, from re- + toucher to touch

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1650

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

retouch

noun re·touch \ ˈrē-ˌtəch , (ˌ)rē-ˈtəch \

Definition of retouch

: the act or process or an instance of retouching; especially : the retouching of a new growth of hair

Recent Examples of retouch from the Web

To start, Sheriff used Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r instant retouch primer.

— ashley weatherford, The Cut, "The Best and Biggest Hair at the Oscars," 4 Mar. 2018

First Known Use of retouch

1703

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

RETOUCH Defined for English Language Learners

retouch

verb

Definition of retouch for English Language Learners

: to make small changes to (something, such as a photograph) in order to improve the way it looks

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retouch

Definition of retouch

retoucher

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retouch

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retouch

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retouch

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retoucher

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retouch

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