polish

1 of 4

verb

pol·​ish ˈpä-lish How to pronounce polish (audio)
polished; polishing; polishes

transitive verb

1
: to make smooth and glossy usually by friction : burnish
2
: to smooth, soften, or refine in manners or condition
3
: to bring to a highly developed, finished, or refined state : perfect

intransitive verb

: to become smooth or glossy by or as if by friction
polisher noun

polish

2 of 4

noun (1)

1
a
: a smooth glossy surface : luster
b
: freedom from rudeness or coarseness : culture
c
: a state of high development or refinement
2
: the action or process of polishing
3
: a preparation that is used to produce a gloss and often a color for the protection and decoration of a surface
furniture polish
nail polish

Polish

3 of 4

adjective

Pol·​ish ˈpō-lish How to pronounce Polish (audio)
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Poland, the Poles, or Polish

Polish

4 of 4

noun (2)

: the Slavic language of the Poles

Examples of polish in a Sentence

Verb He spent the summer polishing his math skills. you'll need to polish your shoes with a clean rag before the performance Noun (1) I need more shoe polish. Did you use a wax polish on the table or an oil-based one? The movie has the polish we've come to expect from that director. He's rude and lacks polish.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The exercises were aimed at polishing his first step and creating a smoother route to the baseball. Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2024 Final Touches Lastly, the hat undergoes a secondary flanging before arriving at the hatter’s bench for final finishing, including creasing, polishing, and gentle steaming to relax the fibers and bring out the colors. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 3 Mar. 2024 That work included sweeping, mopping, polishing glassware and silverware, and taking out trash, according to the lawsuit. Kevin Grasha, The Enquirer, 27 Feb. 2024 Final touches to the special-edition bottles include buffing and polishing for maximum shine. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 21 Feb. 2024 The studio also quietly hired Eric Pearson to polish the script for Fantastic Four, which will shoot this summer in London. Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2024 Leadership coaches are often hired to work with individuals or teams to help polish rough edges, support transitions into new roles or provide insight as a thinking partner with no hidden agenda. Janine Schindler, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 Now is the time to clean the feeders, stock up on birdseed, clean out nest boxes, polish up those garden fountains and put out the welcome mat for summer visitors. Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Feb. 2024 Another person would cast it in bronze and others would polish and finish it. Grace Cote, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
Noun
The long-lasting polish mimics the sheen and texture of a gel polish and is said to last up to 10 days. Wendy Vazquez, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2024 These styles provide the perfect amount of polish to any look and don’t compromise on comfort with a low heel. Alexis Bennett Parker, Vogue, 28 Feb. 2024 The sturdy canvas reinforces the structured shape of the tote, while leather trim and double shoulder straps provide polish. Paula Lee, Glamour, 26 Feb. 2024 Naturally, the fresh coat of polish is Honolulu Blue. USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024 Today, salon owners have noticed a shift away from gel polish to the traditional manicure. Sophia Panych, Allure, 22 Feb. 2024 This body polish is infused with the natural scents of coconut and rose, crafting a whimsical fragrance, reminiscent of fine perfume when infused with the steam of your shower — and leaving you with buttery soft skin. Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 16 Feb. 2024 Returning to this record then, with its new polish and poise, is a kind of homecoming celebration. Allaire Nuss, EW.com, 6 Feb. 2024 Their punk sound had been given a pop polish by Gottehrer. Longreads, 16 Jan. 2024
Adjective
Johnsonville recalled Polish kielbasa turkey sausage produced between Oct. 30 and 31, 2023. Journal Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2024 Malevich, for instance, was born in Ukraine to Polish parents and lived in Russia for many years. Constant Méheut, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 While searching a Polish forest in November, a metal detectorist made a rare discovery: a 4,000-year-old copper dagger that may have belonged to an elite warrior. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024 To the sound of belches of fear, black-and-white footage shot on a thermal imaging camera shows a young Polish girl risking her life to cycle to the camp at night. Hazlitt, 6 Mar. 2024 The Extinction of Irena Rey follows eight translators on a retreat located at the edge of a remote Polish forest. Rhian Sasseen, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2024 Now, the new Polish government led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk pledges to restore the country's independent judiciary, and hopes to unfreeze those EU funds. Rob Schmitz, NPR, 26 Feb. 2024 The foundation helps connect people of Polish heritage with their homeland, connects young people with seniors, helps elderly people in need and educates young people about history. Phaedra Trethan, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2024 Based on a real story, Magda, a hardworking Polish immigrant in Ireland, passes herself off as an art dealer, aristocrat and member of the world’s elite. John Hopewell, Variety, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'polish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English polisshen, from Anglo-French poliss-, stem of polir, from Latin polire

Adjective

Pole

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Adjective

1592, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1555, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of polish was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near polish

Cite this Entry

“Polish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polish. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

polish

1 of 4 verb
pol·​ish ˈpäl-ish How to pronounce polish (audio)
1
: to make smooth and glossy usually by rubbing
2
: to smooth or improve in manners, condition, or style
3
: to bring to a highly developed or finished state
polish a technique
polisher noun

polish

2 of 4 noun
1
a
: a smooth glossy surface : luster
b
: good manners : refinement
2
: the action or process of polishing
3
: a substance prepared for use in polishing
shoe polish
nail polish

Polish

3 of 4 adjective
Pol·​ish ˈpō-lish How to pronounce Polish (audio)
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Poland, the Poles, or Polish

Polish

4 of 4 noun
: the Slavic language of the Poles

More from Merriam-Webster on polish

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