Phrase guide

touch on

verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To mention briefly; to cursorily discuss.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • We touched on the subject of wages, but we didn't reach a conclusion.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To come or go to for a short time.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

have an effect upon

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Will the new rules affect me?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: affect, impact, bear upon, bear on, touch

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change, alter, modify

Narrower terms: strike a blow, repercuss, tell on, redound, stimulate, excite, process, treat, hydrolize, hydrolise, tinge, color, colour, distort, queer, expose, scupper, endanger, peril, hit, strike, subject, trouble, put out, inconvenience, disoblige, discommode, incommode, bother, influence, act upon, work, slam-dunk

4

verb

Meaning 4

restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She repaired her TV set
  • Repair my shoes please

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: repair, mend, fix, bushel, doctor, furbish up, restore

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: better, improve, amend, ameliorate, meliorate

Narrower terms: tinker, fiddle, fill, piece, patch, cobble, point, repoint, trouble-shoot, troubleshoot, patch up, sole, resole, vamp, revamp, heel, reheel, darn

5

verb

Meaning 5

refer to or discuss briefly

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: mention, advert, bring up, cite, name, refer

6

verb

Meaning 6

be relevant to

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • There were lots of questions referring to her talk
  • My remark pertained to your earlier comments

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: refer, pertain, relate, concern, come to, bear on, touch, have-to doe with

Antonyms: none provided

Narrower terms: focus on, center on, revolve around, revolve about, concentrate on, center, apply, hold, go for, involve, affect, regard, matter to, interest

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

19 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: անդրադառնալ (andradaṙnal) — mention briefly
  • Armenian: շոշափել (šošapʻel) — mention briefly
  • Chinese Mandarin: 簡要提及 /简要提及 (jiǎnyào tíjí) — mention briefly
  • Chinese Mandarin: 粗略討論 /粗略讨论 (cūlüè tǎolùn) — mention briefly
  • Chinese Mandarin: 輕描淡寫 /轻描淡写 (qīngmiáodànxiě) — mention briefly
  • Finnish: sivuta — mention briefly
  • French: effleurer — mention briefly
  • French: évoquer — mention briefly
  • German: anreißen — mention briefly
  • Indonesian: singgung — mention briefly
  • Spanish: tocar — mention briefly
  • Turkish: değinmek — mention briefly
  • Turkish: söz etmek — mention briefly
  • Turkish: yer vermek — mention briefly
  • Chinese Mandarin: 短暫來訪 /短暂来访 (duǎnzàn láifǎng) — come or go for a short time
  • Chinese Mandarin: 短時間到訪 /短时间到访 (duǎn shíjiān dàofǎng) — come or go for a short time
  • Chinese Mandarin: 順路拜訪 /顺路拜访 (shùnlù bàifǎng) — come or go for a short time
  • Finnish: pistäytyä — come or go for a short time
  • French: passer — come or go for a short time