refresh
Americanverb (used with object)
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refreshes,
present (3rd person singular)
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refreshed,
past participle, past
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refreshing
present participle
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to provide new vigor and energy by rest, food, etc. (often used reflexively).
- Synonyms:
- revive
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to stimulate (the memory).
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to make fresh again; reinvigorate or cheer (a person, the mind, spirits, etc.).
- Antonyms:
- discourage, dispirit
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to freshen in appearance, color, etc., as by a restorative.
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Computers.
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to access (the most recent version of a web page) from the internet instead of from the cache.
I refreshed the page to see the current stock price before executing my online trade.
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to display (an image) repeatedly, as on a CRT, in order to prevent fading.
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to read and write (the contents of dynamic storage) at intervals in order to avoid loss of data.
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verb (used without object)
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refreshes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
refreshed,
past participle, past
-
refreshing
present participle
-
to take refreshment, especially food or drink.
-
to become fresh or vigorous again; revive.
verb
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(usually tr or reflexive) to make or become fresh or vigorous, as through rest, drink, or food; revive or reinvigorate
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(tr) to enliven (something worn or faded), as by adding new decorations
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(tr) to stimulate (the memory)
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(tr) to replenish, as with new equipment or stores
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computing to display the latest updated version (of a web page or document); reload
Usage
What does refresh mean? To refresh is to reinvigorate, renew, or restore something to its original condition or a better state. In the context of technology, refresh most commonly means to reload a web page or app in order to access the most recent or updated version of a display or feed. Example: It’s amazing how much a hot shower can really refresh your spirit.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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refreshsimple
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refreshessimple
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have refreshedperfect
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has refreshedperfect
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am refreshingprogressive
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are refreshingprogressive
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is refreshingprogressive
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have been refreshingperfect progressive
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has been refreshingperfect progressive
Past
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refreshedsimple
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had refreshedperfect
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was refreshingprogressive
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were refreshingprogressive
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had been refreshingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of refresh
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English refreschen, from Middle French refreschir, Old French. See re-, fresh
Explanation
To refresh is to renew or revive — to make someone feel newly clean or invigorated. After a long, hot run, a glass of lemonade might refresh you. You might refresh yourself by taking a shower or a nap, and you can easily refresh your breath by brushing your teeth. When you refresh your memory, you stimulate it, or get it going: "I looked over my notes to refresh my memory before the quiz." On a computer, you can refresh a page by updating it. Refresh comes from the Old French refreschier, "refresh or renew."
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.
See Examples For:
Who else sees “Instagzam”? Instagram unveiled its first brand refresh in a decade, swapping its classic cursive wordmark for a hybrid script that is drawing mixed reactions online.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
You refresh a feed for news of a village whose name your relatives say with their whole mouths and you say with an accent that gives you away.
From Salon ● Aug. 5, 2026
For the future, the FIA is working on an update that would calculate expected car position in the case of an irregular refresh rate from the F1 timing system.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
The old computer-software index is due for a refresh, too.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026
The small company made the long descent in silence, stopping thrice to refresh themselves along the way.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
Trained entirely on a given pastor’s sermons and teaching, PastorGPT refreshes itself automatically each week by downloading and transcribing new sermon uploads from YouTube.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
“As the portfolio refreshes, that capital will start earning the current interest rate, and that is supplementing their growth,” Nygren says.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 5, 2026
The company’s enhanced marketing initiatives and franchise refreshes should help things improve, as well.
From Barron's ● Dec. 13, 2025
“Tesla’s refreshes are pretty modest, and they’re driven by improving profitability,” said Ed Niedermeyer, who has written a book about Tesla and is working on a follow-up.
From Slate ● Feb. 12, 2025
But Farmer likes being grounded in the kind of obscurity, away from the media and spotlight, that refreshes his passion and authority; doctoring to the poor is his ultimate source of power.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
It refreshed its Platinum card last year, which has one of the highest annual fees of any Amex card.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
The overlooked museum, however, has been refreshed with an enchanting new exhibition.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2026
The mother called for comprehensive and regularly refreshed training in physical healthcare and resuscitation for mental health staff.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
The outdoor entertaining areas were also refreshed with new landscaping and elegant iron furniture that complements the home’s timeless aesthetic.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026
Conditioned by the earlier hard days, refreshed by the days at the park, both their muscles and spirits were in good tone.
From "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt
With “Her Private Hell,” Thatcher has found an auteur who matches her refreshing self-assurance.
From Salon ● Aug. 17, 2026
“There’s a lot of refreshing of how the shoes can be worn.”
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 15, 2026
And the experience was both calming and refreshing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
"To cut it out completely has been very refreshing, without really trying," he says.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
The cool air was refreshing, despite the dust and the strong scent of mildew.
From "The Maze Runner" by James Dashner
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.
