as in improving
to make better
worked on refining her backhand before the big tennis match
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Recent Examples of refining
Ending the risk The team will first scale successful technologies, such as mobile inspection platforms and robotic arms, by refining them in Oxford’s labs before full-scale deployment.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Apr. 2026
For gardeners refining their craft after years of practice, the value in revisiting these basics is not in learning them for the first time.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026
The clinic even features a room dedicated to refining gross motor skills, where children can jump on a mini trampoline, dangle from gymnastic rings, play in a ball pit, climb on a small rock wall, swing on a hammock-like swing set, ride a tricycle or knock down small bowling pins.
—Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 29 Apr. 2026
While Breer’s team was quietly refining its design through painstaking engineering and wind-tunnel trials, another man was moving even faster.
—Bill Gourgey, Popular Science, 29 Apr. 2026
The obituary shared that McLemore was particularly passionate about creating and refining the Big Bob Gibson barbecue sauces, one of which – the white sauce – is so popular that people across the country have recreated it.
—Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
This was by design, as Romvari exercised patience to make this moment count, refining her visual style and tightening her narrative approach.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026
In the past this kind of possum-tracking technique seemed impossible, but in the last two years, Sanjar, Cove and Jeremy Dixon, manager of the refuge, have made significant strides in refining the concept to be a weapon against the invasive and highly destructive snakes.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2026
By generating ideas, testing them and refining the results in a self-improving loop, ASI-Evolve mirrors the trial-and-error process of not just AI model building, but also science and math research.
—New Atlas, 19 Apr. 2026
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Apr. 2026
For gardeners refining their craft after years of practice, the value in revisiting these basics is not in learning them for the first time.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026
The clinic even features a room dedicated to refining gross motor skills, where children can jump on a mini trampoline, dangle from gymnastic rings, play in a ball pit, climb on a small rock wall, swing on a hammock-like swing set, ride a tricycle or knock down small bowling pins.
—Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 29 Apr. 2026
While Breer’s team was quietly refining its design through painstaking engineering and wind-tunnel trials, another man was moving even faster.
—Bill Gourgey, Popular Science, 29 Apr. 2026
The obituary shared that McLemore was particularly passionate about creating and refining the Big Bob Gibson barbecue sauces, one of which – the white sauce – is so popular that people across the country have recreated it.
—Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
This was by design, as Romvari exercised patience to make this moment count, refining her visual style and tightening her narrative approach.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026
In the past this kind of possum-tracking technique seemed impossible, but in the last two years, Sanjar, Cove and Jeremy Dixon, manager of the refuge, have made significant strides in refining the concept to be a weapon against the invasive and highly destructive snakes.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2026
By generating ideas, testing them and refining the results in a self-improving loop, ASI-Evolve mirrors the trial-and-error process of not just AI model building, but also science and math research.
—New Atlas, 19 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refining
Verb
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Rinsing quinoa is really about improving the experience and allowing the ingredient to deliver on flavor and nourishment.—
Victoria Spencer,
Martha Stewart,
27 Apr. 2026
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According to Asylon, the focus has shifted from adoption to effective integration, enhancing existing systems while improving efficiency and reducing friction.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The expansion is also expected to add more natural light, green space and a new lobby in the hopes of enhancing comfort and care for families, hospital leaders, who touted the tower as a ‘transformative project,’ said on Wednesday.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
29 Apr. 2026
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Work may need to be repeatedly translated between systems, increasing the effort required for alignment without necessarily enhancing output.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Refining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refining. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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