polished

adjective

pol·​ished ˈpä-lisht How to pronounce polished (audio)
1
: subjected to polishing : made smooth and glossy by or as if by polishing
a polished surface
polished silver
2
: characterized by a high degree of development, finish, or refinement : free from imperfections
a polished performance/performer
a highly polished piece of writing
3
somewhat old-fashioned : characterized by elegance and refinement
a polished gentleman
polished society

Examples of polished in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Meghan Markle's trick for looking polished in a monochromatic outfit may sound too easy to be true, but the proof is in the pictures. Sam Reed, Glamour, 15 Sep. 2023 Her 2018 Be the Cowboy was more polished, but still managed to feel like a gut punch. Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2023 Meghan Markle has an easy formula for looking polished while traveling — and anyone can recreate it. Nicola Fumo, Peoplemag, 14 Sep. 2023 The brass is polished and uniforms pressed for the Lakewood Ranger Marching Band Festival, which returns Sept. 23 at First Federal Lakewood Stadium. John Benson, cleveland, 13 Sep. 2023 Franklin has been instrumental in making vast array and variety of artworks in 15 venues look consistently polished and sophisticated. Briana Miller | , oregonlive, 11 Sep. 2023 The Courser Unos' leather uppers also feature perforations for added breathability, and welded stitching that has been precisely executed to achieve the sneakers' polished and perfect look while also increasing their durability. Emily Belfiore, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2023 The body is made of solid wood for stability and the base features polished white marble for a touch of glam. Mariah Thomas, Good Housekeeping, 8 Sep. 2023 Offered in sizes up to 6X, the long-sleeve style is made with a mid-weight jersey fabric, complete with beautiful hand draping that will give you a polished look — for work or play — in an instant. Tanisha Pina, Peoplemag, 3 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'polished.' 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

Middle English polisshed, from past participle of polisshen to polish

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near polished

Cite this Entry

“Polished.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polished. Accessed 24 Sep. 2023.

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