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
Human editors will refine and enhance Claude’s drafts before publication.
—
Gene Marks, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
Suncor refines about 98,000 barrels of crude oil per day during normal operations and supplies about 40% of the gasoline used in Colorado.
—Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 7 June 2025
Understated enough for the office but refined enough for a Parisian sidewalk café, the polished leather and cushioned sole deliver comfort and sophistication in equal parts.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 6 June 2025
Inside, engineers are refining the volatile rare earth metals, cooking and compressing them into tiny but powerful magnets.
—Jason Allen
june 5, CBS News, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for refine
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Gene Marks, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
Suncor refines about 98,000 barrels of crude oil per day during normal operations and supplies about 40% of the gasoline used in Colorado.
—Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 7 June 2025
Understated enough for the office but refined enough for a Parisian sidewalk café, the polished leather and cushioned sole deliver comfort and sophistication in equal parts.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 6 June 2025
Inside, engineers are refining the volatile rare earth metals, cooking and compressing them into tiny but powerful magnets.
—Jason Allen
june 5, CBS News, 5 June 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 12 Jun. 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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