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
While home renovation isn’t a novel concept—people have been tweaking and refining their spaces for centuries—the physical act of remodeling is growing increasingly more nuanced.
—
Rachel Gallaher, Robb Report, 21 June 2025
Finding the intersection of these three factors can enable professionals to make strategic decisions and take aligned actions that meet their needs, whether that’s skill-building, refining their brand or targeting a new industry.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
All the delays gave Spielberg and his writers (especially Gottlieb) extra time to refine the script, often just prior to filming the scenes.
—ArsTechnica, 20 June 2025
The weed barrier was trimmed, and any remaining gaps filled to refine the look.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for refine
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Rachel Gallaher, Robb Report, 21 June 2025
Finding the intersection of these three factors can enable professionals to make strategic decisions and take aligned actions that meet their needs, whether that’s skill-building, refining their brand or targeting a new industry.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
All the delays gave Spielberg and his writers (especially Gottlieb) extra time to refine the script, often just prior to filming the scenes.
—ArsTechnica, 20 June 2025
The weed barrier was trimmed, and any remaining gaps filled to refine the look.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 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 5 Jul. 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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