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Synonyms

afresh

American  
[uh-fresh] / əˈfrɛʃ /

adverb

  1. anew; once more; again.

    to start afresh.
afresh British  
/ əˈfrɛʃ /

adverb

  1. once more; once again; anew

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of afresh

First recorded in 1500–10; a- 2 + fresh

Explanation

When you do something afresh, you start it again as if it's the first time. You might, for example, start afresh baking a new apple pie after burning the first one. When you see the adverb afresh, it's often following "start" or "begin." Doing something afresh is getting a fresh start, or a complete do-over. Your grandfather might start afresh with his new job as a goat farmer after a lifetime working as an accountant. Or you might start afresh with a classmate you used to argue with, determined to find a way to get along. In both examples, someone is approaching things in a brand new way.

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Vocabulary lists containing afresh

Holler of the Fireflies

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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.

The Villa Stuck reopened to the public in October following a $16 million renovation—the first in 20 years—that allows visitors to appreciate the artist’s gutsy genius afresh.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

I think you are right to look at moving to a new home and starting afresh.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 14, 2026

It is the only Slam missing from his resume and the 22-year-old will start afresh with a new coach after his shock split from Juan Carlos Ferrero, who mentored him since he was 15.

From Barron's • Dec. 31, 2025

The driving maul is still a trump card and the neat off-the-top variation that gave hooker Amy Cokayne her try will have opponents second-guessing themselves afresh.

From BBC • Aug. 22, 2025

They listened attentively, and did his bidding, bathed and dressed afresh; and all the maids adorned themselves.

From "The Odyssey" by Homer

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.