verb

freshen

FREH-shuhn

Freshen (verb) means to make something fresh, clean, or lively again. Example: “She freshened the room with a vase of flowers.”

verb

To make something fresh, clean, or lively again.

"She freshened the room with a vase of flowers."

"A splash of cold water freshened him up before the interview."

Of wind, to become stronger.

"The wind freshened as the storm approached."

How to use freshen

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo make something (or yourself) feel new, clean, or more lively again.

Common pairings

freshen up freshen the air wind freshens

Word forms

freshened past tense, freshens singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She _____ the room with a vase of flowers.

Etymology

Formed from fresh plus the verb-forming suffix -en, meaning "to make."

Synonyms

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refresh refreshen freshen up

Related words

review update renew refresh reboot renovate

Frequently asked questions

What does “freshen” mean?

The word “freshen” means to make something fresh, clean, or lively again. In plain terms, to make something (or yourself) feel new, clean, or more lively again.

How do you pronounce “freshen”?

“Freshen” is pronounced FREH-shuhn (/ˈfɹɛʃən/ in IPA).

How do you use “freshen” in a sentence?

Here is “freshen” used in a sentence: “She freshened the room with a vase of flowers.”

What part of speech is “freshen”?

“Freshen” is a verb.

How many meanings does “freshen” have?

“Freshen” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make something fresh, clean, or lively again.

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