as in to improve
to make better
worked on refining her backhand before the big tennis match
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Recent Examples of refine
This is when state legislators negotiate, refine and rewrite their bills and eventually vote on them, so get ready for a lot of lawmakin’ through April.
—
Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Historian Caitlin Rosenthal shows how plantation owners refined these methods, the British perfected them, and Americans institutionalized them.
—Valerie L. Myers, The Conversation, 8 Jan. 2026
To find marginal gains in performance and stand out from an increasingly homogenous field of super shoes, brands are looking beyond refining the fundamentals.
—Cory Smith, Outside, 8 Jan. 2026
Some time out of the firing line, while Farke refined his five-man defence, allowed the American to find his feet again.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for refine
Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Historian Caitlin Rosenthal shows how plantation owners refined these methods, the British perfected them, and Americans institutionalized them.
—Valerie L. Myers, The Conversation, 8 Jan. 2026
To find marginal gains in performance and stand out from an increasingly homogenous field of super shoes, brands are looking beyond refining the fundamentals.
—Cory Smith, Outside, 8 Jan. 2026
Some time out of the firing line, while Farke refined his five-man defence, allowed the American to find his feet again.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for refine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refine
Verb
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The Carolina Panthers’ defense improved in almost every major statistical category from 2024 to 2025.—
Mike Kaye
January 8,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Jan. 2026
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Tapascott said everything improves when weight drops, from acceleration to braking and efficiency.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Titanium dioxide materials and high-refractive-index lenses further enhance light absorption.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
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These features are further enhanced by technology that adapts to individual preferences, such as smart shower controls and lighting systems tailored to each user.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Refine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refine. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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