refine

verb

re·​fine ri-ˈfīn How to pronounce refine (audio)
refined; refining

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

1
: to become pure or perfected
2
: to make improvement by introducing subtleties or distinctions
refiner noun

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 No single person can build a computer on their own, mine all the metals and refine them, and then create the hardware and the software. Christoph Drösser, Scientific American, 8 June 2024 The research yielded promising results that are still being explored and refined today. Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 6 June 2024 Researchers have been formulating and refining the dose and concentration of the gel since 2005. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 5 June 2024 The story has been refined over the decades, most notably in the 1980s, when many cosmologists came to believe that in its first moments, the universe went through a brief period of extraordinarily fast expansion called inflation before settling into a lower gear. Steve Nadis, Quanta Magazine, 31 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for refine 

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

Word History

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of refine was in 1582

Dictionary Entries Near refine

Cite this Entry

“Refine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refine. Accessed 17 Jun. 2024.

Kids Definition

refine

verb
re·​fine ri-ˈfīn How to pronounce refine (audio)
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 How to pronounce refine (audio)
refined; refining
: to free (as sugar or oil) from impurities or unwanted material

More from Merriam-Webster on refine

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