refracted; refracting; refracts
1
a
: to subject (something, such as a ray of light) to refraction
b
: to alter or distort as if by refraction
to refract that familiar world through the mind and heart of a romantic … woman—
Anton Myrer
Anton Myrer2
: to determine the refracting power of
Examples of refract in a Sentence
Light is refracted when it hits water.
Recent Examples on the Web
These different temperature bands can cause sound waves to bend or refract downwards toward the ground because of the difference in the speed that sound waves travel in warm and cool air, said Jason Corey, associate professor of music for the University of Michigan.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2024
Led by Gossip Girl’s Blake Lively, the new film refracts this coming-of-age tale through the glossy lens of a big-budget Hollywood production soundtracked by Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey.
—Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 10 Aug. 2024
Gioni’s narrative rightly suggests that Courbet’s Realism has been refracted: once a mirror, now a disco ball.
—Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 26 July 2024
The dry air cramps stormy weather, and carries particles that refract brilliant orange and red hues as the sun rises and sets.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 18 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for refract 
Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2024
Led by Gossip Girl’s Blake Lively, the new film refracts this coming-of-age tale through the glossy lens of a big-budget Hollywood production soundtracked by Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey.
—Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 10 Aug. 2024
Gioni’s narrative rightly suggests that Courbet’s Realism has been refracted: once a mirror, now a disco ball.
—Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 26 July 2024
The dry air cramps stormy weather, and carries particles that refract brilliant orange and red hues as the sun rises and sets.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 18 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for refract
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'refract.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Refract.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refract. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
refract
verb
re·fract
ri-ˈfrakt 
: to cause to go through refraction
Medical Definition
refract
transitive verb
re·fract
ri-ˈfrakt
1
: to subject (as a ray of light) to refraction
2
: to determine the refracting power of or abnormality of refraction in (as an eye or a lens)
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