burnish
verb (used with object)
to polish (a surface) by friction.
had burnished
-
past perfectof burnish.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
By the time Jackson declared his 1984 presidential campaign, he had burnished his foreign policy credentials.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 17, 2026
During intense outbursts, his virile voice had burnished power and ping.
From New York Times ● Jan. 1, 2017
He grappled, head on, with how Georgetown had burnished a reputation as a March underachiever.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 18, 2015
Within a few short months, he had burnished Italy’s credibility on the global stage, making the country a serious partner and not the punchline Berlusconi had made it.
From Newsweek ● Feb. 25, 2013
Daniel Sadenwater sat by the stove with a basket on his knee containing the silver forks and spoons he had burnished every evening for thirty years.
From An Old Story of My Farming Days Vol. I (of III). (Ut Mine Stromtid) by Fritz Reuter
