- present participle of refresh.
refreshing
Americanadjective
-
having the power to restore freshness, vitality, energy, etc..
a refreshing nap.
-
pleasingly fresh or different.
a refreshing lack of pretense.
adjective
-
able to or tending to refresh; invigorating
-
pleasantly different or novel
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of refreshing
Explanation
Something is refreshing if it reinvigorates you, or seems new and exciting. The offer of a refreshing glass of iced tea would be especially refreshing if it came from your normally cranky sister. Mint toothpaste is refreshing — clean and brisk — and a cool ocean breeze is refreshing on a hot day. If you're used to seeing wilted salads and pale lasagna in your school cafeteria every day, a refreshing change would be a taco bar or homemade pizza. Refreshing comes from the verb refresh, which has a Germanic root similar to frisc, "fresh" in Old High German.
Vocabulary lists containing refreshing
Words to Describe a Movie
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Words to Describe Food
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American Street
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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.
Playing the Disney slots means reserving a time on your preferred ride, telling the app you want to modify it, then refreshing over and over until a better time appears.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
She sautés her veggies to make “basically a stir-fry,” adding, “It’s less refreshing in this hot weather than a regular raw salad, but the tradeoff feels worth it.”
From Slate ● Jul. 17, 2026
But her refreshing honesty is what people respond to, and both she and Sandy know she’s going to need people in the not-so-distant future.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2026
Matcha and fresh coconut water both feel refreshing and special, making them perfect for afternoon hangs, brunches or any gathering where you want to switch things up from the expected cocktails or beer.
From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026
“Because it is refreshing to be truly honest with someone for a change,” Marco says.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
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.
