refurbish
verb
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As seems proper given how English prefixes work, before you could refurbish something you could furbish it. That shorter word was borrowed into Middle English in the 14th century from Anglo-French as furbisshen; it shares a distant relative with the Old High German verb furben, meaning "to polish." In its earliest uses furbish also meant "to polish," but it developed an extended sense of "to renovate" shortly before English speakers created refurbish with the same meaning in the 17th century. These days refurbish is the more common of the two words, although furbish does continue to be used.
Examples of refurbish in a Sentence
Jason Thomson, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Dec. 2024
Yet the series does find unexpected ways to effectively refurbish that punch for contemporary concerns, best reflected in that audacious ending.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2024
Shop refurbished and like new Amazon Warehouse Amazon Warehouse has millions of open boxes, refurbished, renewed and used goods.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 11 Dec. 2024
By Kathryn Romeyn Artwork by Brendan Smith hangs in a dining room that includes the client’s existing dining table that was modified and refurbished with inset brass detailing added.
—Troy J. McMullen, Architectural Digest, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for refurbish 
Dictionary Entries Near refurbish
Cite this Entry
“Refurbish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refurbish. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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refurbish
verb
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