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
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
Long-term population monitoring and habitat assessments will provide the data needed to refine conservation efforts.
—
Scott Travers, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
Jordan, a three-star wide receiver in high school, is arguably the best athlete in the Giants’ system and boasts a tantalizing combination of power and speed, but his future will hinge on his ability to refine his swing and approach.
—Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2025
Embrace the trend with this pair that looks refined rather than schlumpy.
—Genevieve Cepeda, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2025
Throw a dart at an off-the-charts athlete — Thornton checked in at 6-5 and 205 pounds and ran 4.3 flat in the 40 — and see if his game can be refined enough to become a late-round hit.
—Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for refine
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Scott Travers, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
Jordan, a three-star wide receiver in high school, is arguably the best athlete in the Giants’ system and boasts a tantalizing combination of power and speed, but his future will hinge on his ability to refine his swing and approach.
—Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2025
Embrace the trend with this pair that looks refined rather than schlumpy.
—Genevieve Cepeda, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2025
Throw a dart at an off-the-charts athlete — Thornton checked in at 6-5 and 205 pounds and ran 4.3 flat in the 40 — and see if his game can be refined enough to become a late-round hit.
—Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for refine
Cite this Entry
“Refine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refine. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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
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