fresh
0 antonyms and opposites of fresh, grouped by meaning.
Adjective — Newly made, picked, or obtained; not old or stale.
How to use fresh
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English fersc ("fresh, pure"), tracing back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "fresh." Related to German frisch and French frais.
Full origin of fresh →Frequently asked questions
What does “fresh” mean?
The word “fresh” means newly made, picked, or obtained; not old or stale. In plain terms, new, clean, or not spoiled — and informally, "getting fresh" means acting rude or too forward.
How do you pronounce “fresh”?
“Fresh” is pronounced frehsh (/fɹɛʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “fresh” in a sentence?
Here is “fresh” used in a sentence: “She bought fresh bread from the bakery this morning.”
What part of speech is “fresh”?
Depending on how it is used, “fresh” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “fresh” come from?
The word “fresh” comes from French. From Old English fersc ("fresh, pure"), tracing back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning "fresh." Related to German frisch and French frais.
Is “fresh” a common word?
“Fresh” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “fresh” have?
“Fresh” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: newly made, picked, or obtained; not old or stale.
What is the difference between fresh and stale?
They are opposites when describing food. Fresh means newly made, picked, or obtained, still in good condition. Stale means old and past its best, having lost moisture, flavour, or crispness — like bread that has gone hard. Fresh food tastes at its peak; stale food has started to decline.
What does fresh mean when describing water?
Fresh water means water that is not salty, the kind found in most rivers, lakes, and rain, as opposed to seawater. In this sense fresh describes the type of water rather than how new it is. Fresh can also mean clean and drinkable, as in a fresh mountain stream.
Does fresh only describe food?
No. Beyond food, fresh describes anything new or recently arrived — fresh ideas, a fresh start, fresh snow, or fresh news. It can mean clean and invigorating, like fresh air. Informally, being fresh with someone can even mean being cheeky or overly bold, so context matters.