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
Jeanne Beatrix Law, The Conversation, 7 May 2025
Polish with Microfiber Cloth Use a microfiber cloth to polish the mirror after squeegeeing.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 May 2025
Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 10 May 2025
Even as a 19-year-old, his composure and technical polish on the ball in a struggling Southampton team had marked him out as the kind of press-resistant No 6 that every modern elite team wants.
—Liam Twomey, New York Times, 3 May 2025
Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 12 May 2025
Macron traveled to Kyiv with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
—Samya Kullab, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for polish
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Verb
Instead of replacing her creativity, AI amplified it by providing structured and consistent feedback, giving her more time to polish her jokes.
—Jeanne Beatrix Law, The Conversation, 7 May 2025
Polish with Microfiber Cloth Use a microfiber cloth to polish the mirror after squeegeeing.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 May 2025
Noun
During that time, horses can be taken for a walk, petted or given a makeover that includes glittery hoof polish and tail braiding.
—Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 10 May 2025
Even as a 19-year-old, his composure and technical polish on the ball in a struggling Southampton team had marked him out as the kind of press-resistant No 6 that every modern elite team wants.
—Liam Twomey, New York Times, 3 May 2025
Adjective
The finding took place during renovations to a statue of Tadeusz Kościuszko — an 18th century Polish statesman renowned for his role in a national uprising and the American Revolution — on the castle grounds, according to a news release from the museum.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 12 May 2025
Macron traveled to Kyiv with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
—Samya Kullab, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 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 23 May. 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
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