refined; refining
1
: to free (something, such as metal, sugar, or oil) from impurities or unwanted material
2
: to free from moral imperfection : elevate
3
: to improve or perfect by pruning or polishing
refine a poetic style
4
: to reduce in vigor or intensity
5
: to free from what is coarse, vulgar, or uncouth
1
: to become pure or perfected
2
: to make improvement by introducing subtleties or distinctions
refiner
noun
Examples of refine in a Sentence
The inventor of the machine spent years refining the design.
The class is meant to help you refine your writing style.
Recent Examples on the Web
If search reliability drives a beat, update evergreen explainers and refine the internal links that help readers stay oriented.
—
Malana Vantyler, Ascend Agency, 6 Nov. 2025
Many carriers now use real-time driving data, credit patterns, and even payment history to refine rates.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
However, the company views the mission as a valuable experience and now plans the Vestri mission for 2026 to refine extraction methods.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025
What Happens Next The CHSRA plans to consult with property owners in Kern County and continue refining its design with the goal of reducing costs and impacts before any construction changes move forward.
—Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for refine
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show current usage.
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Malana Vantyler, Ascend Agency, 6 Nov. 2025
Many carriers now use real-time driving data, credit patterns, and even payment history to refine rates.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
However, the company views the mission as a valuable experience and now plans the Vestri mission for 2026 to refine extraction methods.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2025
What Happens Next The CHSRA plans to consult with property owners in Kern County and continue refining its design with the goal of reducing costs and impacts before any construction changes move forward.
—Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for refine
Cite this Entry
“Refine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refine. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
refine
verb
re·fine
ri-ˈfīn 
refined; refining
1
: to come or bring to a pure state
refine sugar
2
: to make or become improved
3
: to free from what is vulgar
4
: to improve by introducing something that makes a small difference
refined upon the older methods
refiner
noun
Medical Definition
refine
transitive verb
re·fine
ri-ˈfīn
refined; refining
: to free (as sugar or oil) from impurities or unwanted material
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