freshen

[ fresh-uhn ]

/ ˈfrɛʃ ən /

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See synonyms for: freshen / freshening on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to make fresh; refresh, revive, or renew: We need a good rain to freshen the flowers.

to remove saltiness from.

Nautical. to preserve (a rope in use) from prolonged friction or concentrated stress on any one part.

verb (used without object)

to become or grow fresh.

(of a cow)

to commence giving milk after calving.
to give birth.

Verb Phrases

freshen up, to make oneself feel freshly clean or neat, as by washing, changing clothes, etc.: to freshen up after a long trip.

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showing self-respect

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Origin of freshen

First recorded in 1690–1700; fresh + -en¹

Words nearby freshen

Frescobaldi, fresco secco, fresh, fresh as a daisy, fresh breeze, freshen, freshener, fresher, freshet, fresh frozen plasma, fresh gale

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use freshen in a sentence

The best dental chews for dogs can keep your best friend’s mouth and body healthy, and even freshen their breath.
Best dental chews for dogs to brush up on oral health|Andrew Waite|September 23, 2021|Popular-Science
That’s also the best way to freshen back panels and straps, which get stinky from being in contact with our bodies on rides.
How to Clean Your Cycling Gear|agintzler|July 17, 2021|Outside Online
When Spears wanted to freshen up her home, such as updating the color of her cabinets, Jamie allegedly refused to hand over her own money, saying it would be too expensive.
How Britney Spears’ Father Controlled Her Circle of Friends|Cheyenne Roundtree|June 25, 2021|The Daily Beast
Chips and pretzels, cookies and crackers, nuts and bars, jerky and fruit leathers, the gum and mints that provide some semblance of freshening up during hours on the road.
I Found the Formula for Road Trip Bliss, and It’s Gardetto’s and Sour Punch Straws|Jenny G. Zhang|May 26, 2021|Eater

Carpet room deodorizers can freshen the carpet and the room, but be judicious with them.
Hints From Heloise: Skip the powder for carpets|Heloise Heloise|December 10, 2020|Washington Post
He bravely promises to “deliver life-changing results” to those with deep enough pockets to freshen up and stop aging.
The New World of Anti-Aging Dentistry|Kent Sepkowitz|June 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Maybe you think Botox is no big deal—a quick lunchtime jab to freshen up the face?
Nicole Kidman Botox Insanity: Why All Women Lose Out When We Obsess Over Stars’ Faces|Emma Woolf|May 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Talking to NPR, scholar Quentin Taylor tries to freshen up the metaphor.
The Daily Beast Recommends|The Daily Beast|April 7, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Lightning from the east and west accompanied the rain, but the wind was steady, and did not freshen or lull during the showers.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia] [Volume 2 of 2]|Phillip Parker King
A light rain had fallen the night before, just enough to beat down the dust and freshen the landscape.
British Highways And Byways From A Motor Car|Thomas D. Murphy
However, I think we shall do, if the wind does not freshen again.
A Final Reckoning|G. A. Henty
I was but planning with this minion here some way to freshen your spirits.
The Proud Prince|Justin Huntly McCarthy
Naturally it took them time to scrub and generally freshen after an all days ride on the train.
Marjorie Dean College Freshman|Pauline Lester

British Dictionary definitions for freshen

freshen

/ (ˈfrɛʃən) /

verb

to make or become fresh or fresher

(often foll by up) to refresh (oneself), esp by washing

(intr) (of the wind) to increase

to lose or cause to lose saltiness

(intr) mainly US

(of farm animals) to give birth
(of cows) to commence giving milk after calving

Derived forms of freshen

freshener, noun

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

freshen

Origin of freshen

Words nearby freshen

Words related to freshen

How to use freshen in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for freshen

Derived forms of freshen