refresh

verb

re·​fresh ri-ˈfresh How to pronounce refresh (audio)
refreshed; refreshing; refreshes

transitive verb

1
: to restore strength and animation to : revive
2
: to freshen up : renovate
3
a
: to restore or maintain by renewing supply : replenish
b
: arouse, stimulate
let me refresh your memory
4
: to run water over or restore water to
5
: to update or renew (something, such as an image, the contents of a computer memory, or the displayed version of a Web page) especially by sending a new signal
… on a 720p HDTV, each pixel gets refreshed 60 times a second.Family Circle
If you are unsure of whether the content you are viewing on a Web page is current, you should refresh the Web page.Gary B. Shelley and Misty E. Vermaat

intransitive verb

1
: to become refreshed
2
: to take refreshment
3
: to lay in fresh provisions
refresh noun
Choose the Right Synonym for refresh

renew, restore, refresh, renovate, rejuvenate mean to make like new.

renew implies a restoration of what had become faded or disintegrated so that it seems like new.

efforts to renew the splendor of the old castle

restore implies a return to an original state after depletion or loss.

restored a fine piece of furniture

refresh implies the supplying of something necessary to restore lost strength, animation, or power.

a refreshing drink

renovate suggests a renewing by cleansing, repairing, or rebuilding.

the apartment has been entirely renovated

rejuvenate suggests the restoration of youthful vigor, powers, or appearance.

the change in jobs rejuvenated her spirits

Examples of refresh in a Sentence

brought out some iced tea to refresh the spirits of the folks working out in the sun we were looking for a family-friendly restaurant where we could sit down and refresh before continuing
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The wide positions have been refreshed with the arrivals of Estevao Willian, one of the rising stars of the game, plus Jamie Gittens and Alejandro Garnacho. James McNicholas, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025 Some stores in New York City and southern California have already been given the makeover and by the end of next year some 1,000 coffeehouses will have been refreshed in the initial tranche. Mark Faithfull, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025 Primordial water is trapped and finite; newer water suggests the aquifer is still connected to a terrestrial source and being refreshed, however slowly. Rodrique Ngowi, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025 While landscaping won’t date a home the same way building materials will, fresh plantings can take your house far in terms of refreshing the exterior. Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for refresh

Word History

Etymology

Middle English refresshen, from Anglo-French refreschir, from re- + fresch fresh — more at fresh

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of refresh was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Refresh.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refresh. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

refresh

verb
re·​fresh ri-ˈfresh How to pronounce refresh (audio)
1
: to make fresh or fresher : revive
sleep refreshes the body
refreshed my memory by looking at my notes
2
: to restore or maintain by renewing supply

More from Merriam-Webster on refresh

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!