polished; polishing; polishes
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
: to become smooth or glossy by or as if by friction
polisher
noun
1
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
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Poland, the Poles, or Polish
: 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
Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Most people think stand-up comics spend decades polishing their act to get good at telling jokes.
—Nate Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2025
Ian Shepherd, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Go wild with crystals of differing shapes, sizes and colors, and finish with an extra glossy layer of clear polish for a final touch of dazzling shine.
—Georgia Day, Vogue, 23 June 2025
Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025
Poland and allied countries scrambled aircraft to ensure the safety of Polish airspace, the country’s air force said.
—Volodymyr Yurchuk, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for polish
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
Other procedures like polishing restorations, ceramic crowns, using elastics, orthodontic appliances, and so on can generate particles.
—Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Most people think stand-up comics spend decades polishing their act to get good at telling jokes.
—Nate Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2025
Noun
This divide not only exposed the contrasting nature of the two events but also underscored the broader segmentation within the creator economy itself: scale vs. intimacy, polish vs. presence, spectacle vs. spontaneity.
—Ian Shepherd, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Go wild with crystals of differing shapes, sizes and colors, and finish with an extra glossy layer of clear polish for a final touch of dazzling shine.
—Georgia Day, Vogue, 23 June 2025
Adjective
No Russian missiles or drones entered Polish airspace, the command said.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025
Poland and allied countries scrambled aircraft to ensure the safety of Polish airspace, the country’s air force said.
—Volodymyr Yurchuk, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for polish
Cite this Entry
“Polish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polish. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
polish
1 of 4 verb
pol·ish
ˈpäl-ish 
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 noun1
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
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Poland, the Poles, or Polish
Polish
4 of 4 noun
: the Slavic language of the Poles
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share