polished; polishing; polishes
1
: to make smooth and glossy usually by friction : burnish
2
: to smooth, soften, or refine in manners or condition
3
: to bring to a highly developed, finished, or refined state : perfect
: to become smooth or glossy by or as if by friction
polisher
noun
1
2
: the action or process of polishing
3
: a preparation that is used to produce a gloss and often a color for the protection and decoration of a surface
furniture polish
nail polish
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Poland, the Poles, or Polish
: the Slavic language of the Poles
Synonyms
Examples of polish in a Sentence
Verb
He spent the summer polishing his math skills.
you'll need to polish your shoes with a clean rag before the performance
Noun (1)
I need more shoe polish.
Did you use a wax polish on the table or an oil-based one?
The movie has the polish we've come to expect from that director.
He's rude and lacks polish.
Recent Examples on the Web
Heather Bien, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2025
Stepping out onto cold Turkish marble, polished by centuries of footsteps, feels like walking into the pages of mythology.
—Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
Brendan Marks, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Pets are on the floors more often than humans, so be particularly careful with floor cleansers, polishes, and waxes.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Jan. 2025
Max Goldbart, Deadline, 10 Jan. 2025
In 2014, Gibbons stunned the classical world by performing Henryk Górecki's Symphony of Sorrowful Songs with a Polish orchestra.
—Darryn King, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for polish 
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Verb
Instead, Cardozo recommends placing a tea towel in the sink, washing the crystal in lukewarm water with a mild detergent, and polishing it with a lint-free towel.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2025
Stepping out onto cold Turkish marble, polished by centuries of footsteps, feels like walking into the pages of mythology.
—Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
Noun
Arizona: Is this a typical Tommy Lloyd team in terms of offensive polish and connectivity?
—Brendan Marks, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Pets are on the floors more often than humans, so be particularly careful with floor cleansers, polishes, and waxes.
—Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
Very Hot: Polish crime drama Śleboda set a SkyShowtime record.
🏕️ Festivals latest: Thomas Vinterburg and Julie Delpy are set for honorary awards at the Göteborg Film Festival.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 10 Jan. 2025
In 2014, Gibbons stunned the classical world by performing Henryk Górecki's Symphony of Sorrowful Songs with a Polish orchestra.
—Darryn King, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for polish
Dictionary Entries Near polish
Cite this Entry
“Polish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polish. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
polish
1 of 4 verb
pol·ish
ˈpäl-ish 
1
: to make smooth and glossy usually by rubbing
2
: to smooth or improve in manners, condition, or style
3
: to bring to a highly developed or finished state
polish a technique
polisher
noun
polish
2 of 4 noun1
a
: a smooth glossy surface : luster
b
: good manners : refinement
2
: the action or process of polishing
3
: a substance prepared for use in polishing
shoe polish
nail polish
Polish
3 of 4 adjective
Pol·ish
ˈpō-lish
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Poland, the Poles, or Polish
Polish
4 of 4 noun
: the Slavic language of the Poles
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