freshen
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to make fresh; refresh, revive, or renew.
We need a good rain to freshen the flowers.
-
to remove saltiness from.
-
Nautical. to preserve (a rope in use) from prolonged friction or concentrated stress on any one part.
verb (used without object)
-
to become or grow fresh.
-
(of a cow)
-
to commence giving milk after calving.
-
to give birth.
-
verb phrase
verb
-
to make or become fresh or fresher
-
(often foll by up) to refresh (oneself), esp by washing
-
(intr) (of the wind) to increase
-
to lose or cause to lose saltiness
-
(intr)
-
(of farm animals) to give birth
-
(of cows) to commence giving milk after calving
-
Other Word Forms
- freshener noun
Etymology
Origin of freshen
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
After giving a number of key players some form of a rest in the 3-2 win against Qarabag on Tuesday, Howe made six changes to freshen up his side.
From BBC
Chang’s, overhauled Red Lobster’s menu, introduced a happy hour and freshened up the marketing.
"It's like a new team coming together. When you get new coaching staff and different ideas, it feels like everyone freshens up and starts from scratch," he said.
From BBC
As Abuela and I freshen up to go to dinner, I think of her words about the ghosts of her Sephardic ancestors.
From Literature
Other costs like hiring a painter to freshen up the kitchen or fixing the shower head would be under your purview.
From MarketWatch
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
