refine

verb

re·fine | \ ri-ˈfīn

refined; refining

Definition of refine

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

Other Words from refine Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about refine

Keep scrolling for more

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

Since Garrett started her work on dryland farming the idea caught on and the Dry Farming Collaborative has formed to further refine the system. — oregonlive.com, "Trial gardens show vegetables can be grown without irrigation," 11 June 2019 Jayanne English, a professor at the University of Manitoba, has spent her career refining art techniques for astronomical data. — Mara Johnson-groh, Quartz, "Art plays an invaluable role in groundbreaking space discoveries," 8 June 2019 The challenges presented by events unfolding in Sudan provide a great opportunity for the AU to refine and consolidate its approach to supporting countries in crisis. — Adem K Abebe, Quartz Africa, "In Sudan, the African Union reminds us it still has a key role in tackling the continent’s crises," 7 June 2019 After meeting with the Oak Lawn Committee, the developer went back to the drawing board to refine its plans. — Steve Brown, Dallas News, "Oak Lawn tower plan pays homage to Dallas' long-lost Esquire Theater," 6 June 2019 Below the oxygen tank was a slightly smaller tank filled with highly refined kerosene. — Oliver Morton, WIRED, "The Beauty and Madness of Sending a Man to the Moon," 4 June 2019 The neighborhood’s beer and refined-dining worlds meet at Sartre OTR, the new restaurant in the vast Rhinegeist Brewery building. — Elaine Glusac, chicagotribune.com, "Don't underestimate dining scene in Cincinnati's dynamic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood," 8 May 2018 Since Friday, the website was refined to include click-on pages where riders can check routes in their part of the county. — Mike Lindblom, The Seattle Times, "Metro buses still on reduced snow schedules while slush brings new driving risks," 12 Feb. 2019 State-of-the-art techniques, refined over nearly a century of work that started with Edwin Hubble himself, now give estimates that differ by a few per cent. — Davide Castelvecchi, Scientific American, "Here Come the Waves," 23 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'refine.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.