touch-up

1 of 2

noun

: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Guthrie joked to cameras, recalling how the two would need a makeup artist to come in for touch-ups after their off-camera chats got emotions. Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2025 What started as little touch-ups to the hotel's space has evolved into complete creative freedom to bring her vision to life. Dustin Staggs, arkansasonline.com, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
Jackson rarely stopped moving throughout the show and even allowed a live feed camera into her dressing room while she briefly got touched up before the encore. Mark Gray, People.com, 31 Dec. 2024 Penman and Sansom had Strong’s makeup down to 30 minutes a day and would touch up his tan by having a spray booth set up right on set. Beatrice Verhoeven, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for touch-up 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1733, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of touch-up was in 1656

Dictionary Entries Near touch-up

Cite this Entry

“Touch-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/touch-up. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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