fine-tune

American  

[fahyn-toon, -tyoon] / ˈfaɪnˈtun, -ˈtjun /

verb (used with object)

fine-tunes, present (3rd person singular) fine-tuned, past participle, past fine-tuning present participle

1. to tune (a radio or television receiver) to produce the optimum reception for the desired station or channel by adjusting a control knob or bar.

2. tune.

3. to make minor adjustments in so as to produce stability, improvement, or the precise results desired.

   to fine-tune the nation's economy.

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fine-tune British  

verb

1. (tr) to make fine adjustments to (something) in order to obtain optimum performance

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• fine-tuner
  noun

Inflected Forms

Participles

• fine-tuning
  present
• fine-tuned
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• fine-tune
  simple
• fine-tunes
  simple
• have fine-tuned
  perfect
• has fine-tuned
  perfect
• are fine-tuning
  progressive
• am fine-tuning
  progressive
• is fine-tuning
  progressive
• have been fine-tuning
  perfect progressive
• has been fine-tuning
  perfect progressive

Past

• fine-tuned
  simple
• had fine-tuned
  perfect
• was fine-tuning
  progressive
• were fine-tuning
  progressive
• had been fine-tuning
  perfect progressive

Future

• will fine-tune
  simple
• will have fine-tuned
  perfect
• will be fine-tuning
  progressive
• will have been fine-tuning
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of fine-tune

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

DeMaio filed for the ballot initiative in 2021 and 2023, but did not move forward with the signature collection process in order to fine-tune the ballot language.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

But at the same time, she warns that researchers need to continue to fine-tune the definition of the term as the evolving science dictates.

From Slate • Mar. 29, 2026

And while you’re at it, fine-tune your deductions as well:

From MarketWatch • Mar. 16, 2026

As Lippman puts it, "It's a new window into the evolution of life across eons and a new opportunity to more efficiently engineer or fine-tune crop traits."

From Science Daily • Mar. 14, 2026

Whatever Palmer learned, he fed back to the show’s producers and writers, so they could fine-tune the material accordingly.

From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

• adjust
• calibrate
• tweak