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
Synonyms
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
Goethe's two-year sojourn in Italy from 1786 to 1788 occurred when wealthy young men embarked on the Grand Tour of northern Europe to refine their education.
—
Irene S. Levine, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024
The 34-piece assortment marries functionality and whimsical cues—in other words, it’s refined without sacrificing the fun kids actually want.
—India Roby, Architectural Digest, 5 Sep. 2024
However, despite a 2018 resolution with Canberra settling Greater Sunrise’s ownership the two sides remain deadlocked over Dili’s insistence on pumping the gas across a deep-sea trench to be refined at an as-yet-unconstructed facility, dubbed Tasi Mane, on its southern coast.
—Charlie Campbell / Dili, Timor-Leste, TIME, 4 Sep. 2024
But Lewis, though a noteworthy pianist—tasteful and elegant, refined in a classicizing mode, hearty in a bluesy one—was hardly an innovative player.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for refine 
Irene S. Levine, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024
The 34-piece assortment marries functionality and whimsical cues—in other words, it’s refined without sacrificing the fun kids actually want.
—India Roby, Architectural Digest, 5 Sep. 2024
However, despite a 2018 resolution with Canberra settling Greater Sunrise’s ownership the two sides remain deadlocked over Dili’s insistence on pumping the gas across a deep-sea trench to be refined at an as-yet-unconstructed facility, dubbed Tasi Mane, on its southern coast.
—Charlie Campbell / Dili, Timor-Leste, TIME, 4 Sep. 2024
But Lewis, though a noteworthy pianist—tasteful and elegant, refined in a classicizing mode, hearty in a bluesy one—was hardly an innovative player.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for refine
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'refine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near refine
Cite this Entry
“Refine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refine. Accessed 12 Sep. 2024.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share