Definition of purify
purified
;purifying
transitive verb
: to make pure: such asa : to clear from material defilement or imperfectionb : to free from guilt or moral or ceremonial blemishc : to free from undesirable elements
intransitive verb
: to grow or become pure or clean
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Examples of purify in a Sentence
We purified the water by boiling it.
You can purify the air with a filtration system.
a bottle of purified water
She believed she could purify herself through constant prayer.
Recent Examples of purify from the Web
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In Nasser’s drive to liberate the country from Western influence and purify the Arab nation, Christians — whose religion is more often practiced in the West — began to take on a less favorable light among the majority Muslim masses.
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Mountain Lake is a rare geological specimen that, a video on the lodge’s website explains, drains itself once in a long while as a sort of purifying exercise, eventually refilling naturally.
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The jacket, from the Copenhagen Institute if Interaction Design, catches falling rain and then purifies it, ready for the wearer to drink.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'purify'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of purify
Middle English purifien, from Anglo-French purifier, from Latin purificare, from Latin purus + -ificare -ify
PURIFY Defined for English Language Learners
purify
playDefinition of purify for English Language Learners
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: to remove dirty or harmful substances from (something)
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: to free (someone) from guilt or evil thoughts
PURIFY Defined for Kids
purify
playDefinition of purify for Students
purified
;purifying
: to make pure : free from impurities
Learn More about purify
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See words that rhyme with purify Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for purify Spanish Central: Translation of purify Nglish: Translation of purify for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of purify for Arabic speakers
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