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

Trimming can be done more often for light touch-ups during the growing season to keep unruly plants in check, remove leggy growth, and maintain shape as the plant grows. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025

In eco mode, the vacuum has an impressive 65 minutes of battery life — more than enough time for quick pickups and enough power to touch-up an entire home on a single charge. —Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025

Verb

As a result, he was touched up by the Dodgers, though the Blue Jays’ own offensive onslaught resulted in a Game 1 victory at home. —Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025

The paint on brick can last 12 or 15 years, but many brick homes need to be painted after about 10 years to touch up peeling paint. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 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