freshen

freshened; freshening; freshens

When you make something feel cleaner or newer, you freshen it. If your grandmother says she's going to freshen her makeup, she might apply some lipstick and powder her nose.

There are many ways to freshen, depending on what needs to be made fresh. You can freshen the air in your house by opening all the windows, or freshen up your friend's drink by pouring more lemonade in her glass. A company may decide to freshen their brand's image after a scandal, and you might freshen your breath by swishing a little mouthwash. Back in the 1600s, this verb meant "make stronger."

Definitions of freshen
  1. verb
    make (to feel) fresh
    synonyms: refresh
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    types:
    air, air out, vent, ventilate
    expose to cool or cold air so as to cool or freshen
    type of:
    regenerate, renew
    reestablish on a new, usually improved, basis or make new or like new
  2. verb
    make fresh again
    synonyms: refresh, refreshen
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    Antonyms:
    fag, fag out, fatigue, jade, outwear, tire, tire out, wear, wear down, wear out, wear upon, weary
    exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress
    type of:
    alter, change, modify
    cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
  3. verb
    become or make oneself fresh again
    “She freshened up after the tennis game”
    synonyms: freshen up, refresh, refreshen
    see moresee less
    types:
    lave, wash up
    wash one's face and hands
    type of:
    change
    undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘freshen'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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