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

• 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

Glen Grant debuts a 30-year-old single malt — a rich, refined standout in its Glasshouse Collection and a testament to three decades of masterful aging. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

Mercury retrograde in Leo later this month on the 18th will rewire your productivity and mental sharpness, making this an excellent time to refine your vision and execute your goals step by step rather than rushing through it all. —Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 July 2025

The company opened its Miami Innovation Hub in 2023 as a regional center for education, research and development, enabling brands across the Americas to create and refine sustainable wash recipes and laser designs—processes that can then be replicated in manufacturing facilities globally. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 1 July 2025

On the backend, analytics continually refine operations, making each store smarter over time. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2025

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
• byline
• canine

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