tune-up

noun

ˈtün-ˌəp 

ˈtyün-

1

: a general adjustment to ensure operation at peak efficiency

an engine tune-up

2

: a preliminary trial : warm-up

Examples of tune-up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the final tune-up before Royal Birkdale, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Smith and Tom Kim share the lead with Min Woo Lee and Matt Fitzpatrick one stroke back. — Mike Dojc, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

One of those wins was a 5-2 triumph over the USA this spring in a World Cup tune-up match in Atlanta. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 6 July 2026

Another casualty of last month’s tune-up was Oscar Onley, expected to lead Netcompany-INEOS after his excellent fourth place for Picnic-PostNL last year. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 1 July 2026

Replacing air filters regularly, cleaning outdoor condenser coils and scheduling annual professional tune-ups can help an air conditioner maintain peak efficiency. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 30 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tune-up

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

Kids Definition

tune-up

noun

ˈt(y)ü-ˌnəp

: a general adjustment to get everything in good working order

an engine tune-up