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

Complete your routine with Performance Whitening Toothpaste or keep a whitening pen handy for easy touch-ups on the go. — ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026

The party took over three levels of the Avalon, offering up plenty of activities with a tarot reader, portrait and hair tinsel stations, photo booth, makeup touch-up counter and a red carpet. — Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026

Verb

It's aimed at users who expect frequent everyday use and prefer to touch up their own edge more easily. — New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026

When the paint is dry, use a small detail brush to touch up any spots or edges as necessary. — Emily Williams, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Sep. 2026

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