retouch

1 of 2

verb

re·​touch (ˌ)rē-ˈtəch 

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

retoucher

2 of 2

noun

re·​touch·​er

-chə(r)

plural -s

: one that retouches

Examples of retouch in a Sentence

Verb

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Sanz-Royo and her colleagues say that based on their experiments, Neanderthals at sites across Europe and Asia were apparently using rhinoceros teeth as soft (compared to rock) hammers for knapping or retouching stone tools or as anvils paired with harder stone hammers or cutting tools. —ArsTechnica, 2 June 2026

Establishing trust and identity for agentic AI is not just retouching older identity management frameworks with a fresh coat of paint. —Anjana Susarla, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026

Aerie pledged in 2014 not to retouch models’ bodies in their advertising, aiming to show a more realistic, diverse representation of beauty. —Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 7 May 2026

Unclear about what exactly his job entails, Mike follows his headless-chicken instincts, which often lead him back to his cabin to retouch his hair spray. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1650, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for retouch

• nonesuch
• clutch
• crutch
• cutch
• dutch
• hutch
• much
• mutch
• such
• touch
• insomuch
• overmuch

Kids Definition

retouch

verb

re·​touch

(ˈ)rē-ˈtəch

: touch up

especially : to change (as a photographic negative) in order to produce a more desirable appearance

retouch

ˈrē-ˌtəch, 

(ˈ)rē-ˈtəch

noun

retoucher

(ˈ)rē-ˈtəch-ər

noun