touch-up

1 of 2

noun

ˈtəch-ˌəp 

: 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

Noun

Frequently Asked Questions Before applying any self-tanner, take care of treatments like waxing, shaving, manicures, or hair color touch-ups. —Lily Wohlner, Allure, 23 Sep. 2025

For example, celebrity hair colorist Jenna Perry of New York City’s Jenna Perry Studio recommends touch-ups and glazes every six to eight weeks for notoriously high-maintenance amber glaze red hair, as well as exclusively using sulphate-free shampoos and conditioners formulated for colored hair. —Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 16 Sep. 2025

Verb

If all else fails, buy a small can of paint for touching up stubborn stains. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025

While the original cut requires some intense blowout skills starting from wet hair, the latest iteration could easily be styled on the fly and is easy to touch up. —Grace McCarty, Glamour, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1733, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for touch-up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup

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