fresh

adjective \ ˈfresh \

Updated on: 10 Apr 2018

Definition of fresh

1 a : having its original qualities unimpaired: such as

(1) : full of or renewed in vigor : refreshed

rose fresh from a good night's sleep

(2) : not stale, sour, or decayed

fresh bread

(3) : not faded

lessons fresh in her memory

(4) : not worn or rumpled

a fresh white shirt

b : not altered by processing

fresh vegetables

2 a : not salt

fresh water

b (1) : free from taint : pure

fresh air

(2) of wind : moderately strong

a fresh breeze

3 a (1) : experienced, made, or received newly or anew

form fresh friendships

(2) : additional, another

a fresh start

b : original, vivid

a fresh portrayal

c : lacking experience : raw

coming fresh to the job
—Helen Howe

d : just come or arrived

fresh from school

e : having the milk flow recently established

a fresh cow

[probably by folk etymology from German frech]

: disposed to take liberties : impudent

don't get fresh with me

5 slang : fashionable, cool

—

freshly

adverb

—

freshness

noun

See fresh defined for English-language learners

See fresh defined for kids

Examples of fresh in a Sentence

You can use either fresh or dried basil for this recipe.
The meat was kept fresh in the refrigerator.
a bouquet of fresh flowers
He changed into a fresh shirt.
She brought a fresh change of clothes.
She rose fresh from a good night's sleep.

Recent Examples of fresh from the Web

Fruits and vegetables are also in abundance, because the balmy weather also actually helps naturally produce them at their optimal growing time, so select produce is fresher and often cheaper.

— spoon u, Teen Vogue, "23 Fruits and Vegetables That Are In-Season During the Spring," 8 Apr. 2018
Others depend on dry shampoo to keep their hair fresh and clean-looking for days.

— emily rekstis, SELF, "5 Shampoos for People Who Actually Have to Wash Their Hair Every Day," 6 Apr. 2018
The melody of flavors were incredibly fresh and flavorful.

— claire perez, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Shepherd's pie with gravy a family favorite," 6 Apr. 2018
The wine has more depth too after a day, a charming, fresh and lovely red for sausage pizza.

— patrick comiskey, latimes.com, "Wines of the week: 3 great bottles of Chianti," 5 Apr. 2018
On the other hand, there's an Ameztoi Rubentis rosé txakolina that's as fresh and nostril tickling as any sparkler, along with a delightfully funky unfiltered Cauhapé Quest Gros Manseng from Jurançon in southwest France.

— mike sula, Chicago Reader, "Bar Biscay is a trippy vision of a land far away," 5 Apr. 2018
Wisely, Vogel as Charlotte avoids the pitfall of trying to imitate the inimitable Burnett and delivers a fresh and winning performance.

— patti restivo, Howard County Times, "A moon full of talent at Laurel Mill Playhouse," 5 Apr. 2018
His tone is amelodic, declarative and a touch absent-minded, as if starting fresh with each rhyme.

— jon caramanica, New York Times, "Indie Rap Veterans Return to a Genre Still in Need of Opposition," 4 Apr. 2018
Meanwhile, Smucker’s baking brands have lost customers in the U.S. as people search for fresher and healthier foods.

— annie gasparro, WSJ, "Smucker to Buy Parent of Pet-Food Maker Nutrish," 4 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fresh.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of fresh

Middle English, from Anglo-French fresch, freis, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German frisc fresh; akin to Old English fersc fresh

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

fresh Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of fresh

new, novel, original, fresh mean having recently come into existence or use. new may apply to what is freshly made and unused

- new brick

or has not been known before

- new designs

or not experienced before.

- starts the new job

novel applies to what is not only new but strange or unprecedented.

- a novel approach to the problem

original applies to what is the first of its kind to exist.

- a man without one original idea

fresh applies to what has not lost its qualities of newness such as liveliness, energy, brightness.

- a fresh start

fresh

adverb

Definition of fresh

: just recently : newly

we're fresh out of eggs

See fresh defined for English-language learners

Examples of fresh in a Sentence

This bread was baked fresh.

Recent Examples of fresh from the Web

Most of the panini are made on house focaccia that is baked fresh here daily, and these feature many of the same topping options as the pizzas.

— larry olmsted, USA TODAY, "Barilla now has five fast-casual restaurants," 21 Mar. 2018
In Time star let us in on one of her little secrets for keeping living spaces fresh.

— olivia harrison, refinery29.com, "This Home Decorating Tip From Reese Witherspoon Is Actually Genius," 12 Mar. 2018
What followed was Wendy’s getting real fresh on its social media accounts, wishing Mickey D’s a happy #NationalFrozenFoodsDay and tweeting photo after photo of wimpy looking burgers.

— editors, USA TODAY, "Stormy Daniels wants to 'set the record straight'," 7 Mar. 2018
The judges managed to evolve and keep their performances fresh even despite the repetitiousness of the day’s early going.

— daniel d'addario, Time, "American Idol 2.0 Is Kinder and Cuddlier. Will It Still Be a Hit?," 1 Mar. 2018
For Team USA and the other participating countries, the closing ceremony will be an opportunity to send off fresh-faced athletes like Nathan Chen, Chloe Kim and Mikaela Shiffrin who will likely be back on the ice and snow in 2022.

— jason duaine hahn, PEOPLE.com, "What to Expect at the Olympics Closing Ceremony, Hosted by Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir on NBC," 23 Feb. 2018
At the end of the cycle, out came a fresh-faced Chinese man, over whom the woman swooned.

— The Economist, "BanyanChina portrays racism as a Western problem," 22 Feb. 2018
CoCo, coming fresh off a win at this weekend’s Fed Cup, joins a line-up of elite athletes that includes Serena and Venus Williams, Elina Svitolina and Marion Bartoli.

— jon wertheim, SI.com, "Mailbag: Young-Harrison Controversy, Plus Tanking, Transparency and More," 14 Feb. 2018
Alexis Morganfield parked early at St. Philip’s College to take part in the parade, with President Donald Trump’s reported vulgar reference to the countries of origin of some immigrants fresh on his mind.

— vincent t. davis, San Antonio Express-News, "San Antonio celebrates 50 years marching for King’s dream," 15 Jan. 2018

Origin and Etymology of fresh

see ¹fresh

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

fresh

noun

Definition of fresh

1 : an increased flow or rush (as of water) : freshet

2 archaic : a stream, spring, or pool of fresh water

Recent Examples of fresh from the Web

Some recipes call for Dijon mustard or fresh chopped herbs such as thyme or rosemary.

— claire perez, Sun-Sentinel.com, "You asked for it: How to make tasty French Brasserie style steak," 21 Sep. 2017
This is particularly true of the three-liter size, where economies of scale allow vintners to offer the equivalent of four standard bottles for remarkably low prices in a package that keeps wine tasting fresh for up to 60 days.

— marnie old, Philly.com, "Great Wine Values: René Barbier 'Mediterranean Red' from Catalonia, Spain," 10 Aug. 2017
With the memory of the Women's March fresh in mind, songs about finding your strength in a world trying to hold you back are topical and widely relatable.

— piet levy, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Review: Kesha achieves greatness on comeback album 'Rainbow'," 10 Aug. 2017
But this year, with Sabia's death fresh in their memory, the team delivered its best run.

— matthew conyers, courant.com, "Emotional Stamford Sweeps West Hartford For American Legion State Title," 29 July 2017

Origin and Etymology of fresh

see ¹fresh

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1538

See Words from the same year

FRESH Defined for English Language Learners

fresh

adjective

Definition of fresh for English Language Learners

: newly produced, made, gathered, etc. : not preserved by being frozen, canned, etc.
: not old, spoiled, etc.
: clean and pure

fresh

adverb

Definition of fresh for English Language Learners

: just recently

FRESH Defined for Kids

fresh

adjective \ ˈfresh \

Definition of fresh for Students

fresher; freshest

1 : not salt

fresh water

2 : pure 1, brisk

fresh air

a fresh breeze

3 : not frozen, canned, or pickled

fresh vegetables

4 : not stale, sour, or spoiled

fresh bread

5 : not dirty or rumpled

a fresh shirt

6 : ¹new 4

Let's make a fresh start.

7 : newly made or received

a fresh wound

fresh news

8 : rude and disrespectful

fresh talk

—

freshly

adverb

—

freshness

noun

Law Dictionary

fresh

adjective

legal Definition of fresh

1 a : free of the detrimental effects of delay (as the fading of memories)

b : characterized by promptness

2 : experienced, made, or received newly or anew

a resumed interrogation requiring fresh Miranda warnings

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fresh

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Definition of fresh for English Language Learners

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