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

Food and drink Dining here is refined with a hint of theatricality reserved for Sazanka, the Teppanyaki grill. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026

The underlying technology relies on a loop-type molten salt design refined over six years. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026

Inflation The Iran war has led oil prices — and those of gasoline, jet fuel, heating oil, diesel and other fuels refined from oil — to surge. — Greg Iacurci,annie Nova,kate Dore, Cfp®, Ea,sarah Agostino,mike Winters, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026

The company has also refined the transmission and final-drive system, claiming smoother, quieter operation and cleaner gear changes. — New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2026

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
• brucine
• byline

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