refined

adjective

re·​fined ri-ˈfīnd 

1

: free from impurities

2

: fastidious, cultivated

3

: precise, exact

a refined test for radioactivity

Synonyms

• evolved
• improved
• advanced
• higher
• developed

Examples of refined in a Sentence

She has become more refined in her painting technique.

He has very refined manners.

refined and elegant works of art

Recent Examples on the Web

The Mulholland Salad, a refined homage to my favorite salad from the Beverly Hills Hotel, the McCarthy Salad, was a highlight - comfort food elevated for Paris. —Erica Wertheim Zohar, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025

The refined maximalists gave us pointers for how to curate a space that plays with bold patterns, bright colors, and various textures without going overboard. —Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 11 Sep. 2025

The main dining room felt more like a refined restaurant than a banquet hall. —Lauren Dana Ellman, AFAR Media, 11 Sep. 2025

Materials submitted by the restaurant group to the port describe the restaurant as offering a refined ambiance with plush seating and warm lighting. —Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for refined

• countersigned
• disinclined
• humankind
• interlined
• intertwined
• mastermind
• misaligned
• nonaligned
• predefined
• realigned
• reassigned
• recombined

Kids Definition

refined

adjective

re·​fined

ri-ˈfīnd

1

: socially well-trained : well-bred, cultivated

very refined manners

2

: freed from impurities : pure

refined sugar

3

: carried to a fine point : subtle

refined measurements