refine

verb

re·​fine ri-ˈfīn 

refined; refining

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

1

: to become pure or perfected

2

: to make improvement by introducing subtleties or distinctions

refiner noun

Synonyms of refine

• improve
• enhance

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

Climate authorities will refine extreme weather forecasting and disaster risk models, and the transition environment hosted at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center will support early work in 2026. —Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 27 Nov. 2025

Secondarily, McDaniels has refined his internal clock and use of cadence. —Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 27 Nov. 2025

In March, Ton Cortés, the renowned Barcelona baker who won the 2024 World Cup, spent about six days at Cossetta’s, helping Martinez and the team test batches and refine recipes. —Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 26 Nov. 2025

Two home remodeling projects proposed for Prestwick Drive were pitched at the La Jolla Shores Permit Review Committee’s November meeting, but both will be returning later once certain details are refined. —Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for refine

• affine
• airline
• align
• aline
• assign
• baseline
• beamline
• benign
• bloodline
• bovine
• byline
• canine

Kids 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