refined; refining
1
: to free (something, such as metal, sugar, or oil) from impurities or unwanted material
2
: to free from moral imperfection : elevate
3
: to improve or perfect by pruning or polishing
refine a poetic style
4
: to reduce in vigor or intensity
5
: to free from what is coarse, vulgar, or uncouth
1
: to become pure or perfected
2
: to make improvement by introducing subtleties or distinctions
refiner
noun
Synonyms
Examples of refine in a Sentence
The inventor of the machine spent years refining the design.
The class is meant to help you refine your writing style.
Recent Examples on the Web
The eatery was casual enough to make the parents of a toddler (and the toddler herself) feel comfortable, while the cuisine was still refined.
—
Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 27 Dec. 2024
At 21, Joseph still has plenty of time to refine his game and the competition with Piroe will only aid his development.
—Nancy Froston, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024
Recognizing those trends, Ford has capitalized, refining their go to market strategies and freshening products, upping recreational vehicle options for van customers and introducing a new generation of Transit with a fully electric E-Transit variant.
—Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
The Germans refined and upgraded its ability to broadcast and receive signals in British airspace, while the United Kingdom raced to detect and disrupt those signals.
—Justin Ling, WIRED, 23 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for refine 
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Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 27 Dec. 2024
At 21, Joseph still has plenty of time to refine his game and the competition with Piroe will only aid his development.
—Nancy Froston, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024
Recognizing those trends, Ford has capitalized, refining their go to market strategies and freshening products, upping recreational vehicle options for van customers and introducing a new generation of Transit with a fully electric E-Transit variant.
—Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
The Germans refined and upgraded its ability to broadcast and receive signals in British airspace, while the United Kingdom raced to detect and disrupt those signals.
—Justin Ling, WIRED, 23 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for refine
Dictionary Entries Near refine
Cite this Entry
“Refine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refine. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
refine
verb
re·fine
ri-ˈfīn 
refined; refining
1
: to come or bring to a pure state
refine sugar
2
: to make or become improved
3
: to free from what is vulgar
4
: to improve by introducing something that makes a small difference
refined upon the older methods
refiner
noun
Medical Definition
refine
transitive verb
re·fine
ri-ˈfīn
refined; refining
: to free (as sugar or oil) from impurities or unwanted material
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