purify

verb

pu·​ri·​fy ˈpyu̇r-ə-ˌfī 

purified; purifying

transitive verb

: to make pure: such as

a

: to clear from material defilement or imperfection

b

: to free from guilt or moral or ceremonial blemish

c

: to free from undesirable elements

intransitive verb

: to grow or become pure or clean

purifier

ˈpyu̇r-ə-ˌfī(-ə)r 

noun

Synonyms

• cleanse
• purge
• sanctify

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 on the Web

That means five giant purifying towers that scrub exhaust fumes from the nearby highway. —Mark Zeigler, The Mercury News, 26 July 2024

Most people who advocate drinking water with lemon (usually warm) usually do so in the morning and on an empty stomach to help purify the body and activate our metabolism. —Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 18 Aug. 2024

His only food for the excursion was beef jerky, salted nuts and iodine tablets to purify water, according to Zollinger. —Graham Hurley, CNN, 14 Aug. 2024

Then, the erythritol is purified and refined into a white crystal powder that resembles sugar. —Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 12 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English purifien, from Anglo-French purifier, from Latin purificare, from Latin purus + -ificare -ify

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

purify

verb

pu·​ri·​fy ˈpyu̇r-ə-ˌfī 

purified; purifying

: to make or become pure

purification

ˌpyu̇r-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən

noun

purifier

ˈpyu̇r-ə-ˌfī(-ə)r 

noun