- (usually tr or reflexive) to make or become fresh or vigorous, as through rest, drink, or food; revive or reinvigorate
- (transitive) to enliven (something worn or faded), as by adding new decorations
- (transitive) to stimulate (the memory)
- (transitive) to replenish, as with new equipment or stores
- to display the latest updated version (of a web page or document); reload
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
re•fresh /rɪˈfrɛʃ/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to provide new vigor and energy by rest, food, etc.:a quick dip in the pool will refresh them.
- to stimulate:Let me refresh your memory.
re•fresh
(ri fresh′),USA pronunciation v.t.
v.i.
re•fresh′ful, adj.
re•fresh′ful•ly, adv.
- to provide new vigor and energy by rest, food, etc. (often used reflexively).
- to stimulate (the memory).
- to make fresh again;
reinvigorate or cheer (a person, the mind, spirits, etc.). - to freshen in appearance, color, etc., as by a restorative.
- Computing
- to display (an image) repeatedly, as on a CRT, in order to prevent fading.
- to read and write (the contents of dynamic storage) at intervals in order to avoid loss of data.
v.i.
- to take refreshment, esp. food or drink.
- to become fresh or vigorous again;
revive.
- Middle French refreschir, Old French. See re-, fresh
- Middle English refreschen 1325–75
re•fresh′ful•ly, adv.
- 1. revive. 3. freshen, enliven, reanimate. 4. restore, repair, renovate, renew, retouch.
- 3. dispirit, discourage.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
refresh /rɪˈfrɛʃ/ vb
'refreshed' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
dynamic
- fresh
- refectory
- refreshment
- regenerate
- static
- stimulating
- freshener
- unrefreshed
- well-refreshed