polish
verb (used with object)
to make smooth and glossy, especially by rubbing or friction.
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polish
1 American
[pol-ish]
/ ˈpɒl ɪʃ /
verb (used with object)
-
polishes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
polished,
past participle, past
-
polishing
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
polishes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
polished,
past participle, past
-
polishing
present participle
-
to become smooth and glossy through polishing.
a flooring that polishes easily.
-
Archaic. to become refined or elegant.
noun
-
polishes
plural
verb phrase
-
polish up to improve; refine.
She took lessons to polish up her speech.
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polish off
-
to finish or dispose of quickly.
They polished off a gallon of ice cream between them.
-
to subdue or get rid of someone.
The fighter polished off his opponent in the first round.
-
Polish
2
American
[poh-lish]
/ ˈpoʊ lɪʃ /
adjective
noun
polish
1
British
/ ˈpɒlɪʃ /
verb
-
to make or become smooth and shiny by rubbing, esp with wax or an abrasive
-
(tr) to make perfect or complete
-
to make or become elegant or refined
noun
-
a finish or gloss
-
the act of polishing or the condition of having been polished
-
a substance used to produce a smooth and shiny, often protective surface
-
elegance or refinement, esp in style, manner, etc
Polish
2
British
/ ˈpəʊlɪʃ /
adjective
noun
polish
Idioms
Synonym Usage
Polish, gloss, luster, sheen refer to a smooth, shining, or bright surface from which light is reflected. Polish suggests the smooth, bright reflection often produced by friction: rubbed to a high polish. Gloss suggests a superficial, hard smoothness characteristic of lacquered, varnished, or enameled surfaces: a gloss on oilcloth, on paper. Luster denotes the characteristic quality of the light reflected from the surfaces of certain materials (pearls, silk, wax, freshly cut metals, etc.): a pearly luster. Sheen, sometimes poetical, suggests a glistening brightness such as that reflected from the surface of silk or velvet, or from furniture oiled and hand-polished: a rich velvety sheen.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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anti-Polishnoun
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polishernoun
-
prepolishnoun
-
repolishverb
-
depolishverb (used with object)
-
interpolishverb (used with object)
-
overpolishverb (used with object)
-
non-Polishadjective
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polishableadjective
-
pre-Polishadjective
-
pro-Polishadjective
-
pseudo-Polishadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
polishsimple
-
polishessimple
-
have polishedperfect
-
has polishedperfect
-
am polishingprogressive
-
are polishingprogressive
-
is polishingprogressive
-
have been polishingperfect progressive
-
has been polishingperfect progressive
Past
-
polishedsimple
-
had polishedperfect
-
was polishingprogressive
-
were polishingprogressive
-
had been polishingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of polish1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English polishen, from Middle French poliss-, long stem of polir, from Latin polīre “to polish”; see -ish 2
Origin of Polish2
Explanation
When you polish something, you rub and buff it until it shines. You might need to polish your reading glasses from time to time. You might polish your wooden coffee table with a cloth or polish beach stones until they gleam. Polish is also a noun, meaning either the spray you use to shine up your furniture or the shininess itself: "The polish on that desk is unbelievable — I can almost see my reflection in it!" There is also a figurative kind of polish, a sort of elegance or clarity you might see in well-edited writing or a fashionable woman sliding into a taxi.
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:
Still, theater critics zinging Zacharia’s lack of polish are missing the point.
From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2026
Several firms with which I have spoken this year report that junior analysts now produce presentations of remarkable polish with AI assistance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
That focus on effort over polish has, surprisingly, helped it survive.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
PCE is widely used in dry cleaning and can also be found in consumer products including arts and crafts adhesives, spot removers and stainless steel polish.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 7, 2026
I’m sure they had a dresser with a tray of nail polish and a jewelry box full of bracelets.
From "Wish" by Barbara O'Connor
There’s a Czech version of “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’,” a Croatian “California Dreamin’,” a Polish “Strangers in the Night.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026
Born into a Polish aristocratic Catholic family with ornate palaces and substantive political influence, d’Ornano descended from the Radziwill line of Polish princes to Prussian kings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2026
"Valor Mortis" by the Polish studio One More Level shows Napoleon's 19th century army fuelled by a mysterious substance that makes them stronger before turning them into zombies and half-animal creatures.
From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026
Polish police said they had arrested 76 people after deploying to schools across the country.
From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026
I watch the opening to the fence through the store glass, and a policeman walks by, Polish, his cap pulled low.
From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron
In the jewellery workshop, quieter than the Royal Mint's coin-pressing halls where he used to work, 63-year-old John Powell carefully polishes a ring.
From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026
One especially useful touch for travelers: the spa offers quick-drying traditional polishes, making it easier to get back to sightseeing without worrying about smudges.
From Salon ● Jun. 11, 2026
Commercial nail polishes were used to test additives for formula compatibility and electrical performance.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 26, 2026
At one point, for example, she reads a passage in which a woman polishes silver “until it gleamed.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 12, 2026
“That dress polishes you up like a fresh snow blossom.”
From "Legend" by Marie Lu
Unlike a traditional videographer who might take a few months to produce a polished wedding film, Burton edits short-form, vertical videos called highlight reels that can be shared the next day.
From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026
The art style divided fans when it was first unveiled, with some saying it looked too polished or plastic-like.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
She also advises them to "build the muscle" of standing up for themselves, even if they don't have a perfectly polished response ready.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
The result is vibrant vases that are polished and imperfect.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
The all-white furniture, accented with black animal sculptures and black-and-white paintings, was as polished and camera-ready as she was in her cream pantsuit.
From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas
Short’s polishing of even so-so lines into comedy gold earned him nominations for every season of “Only Murders” so far.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
Writing something is a bit like polishing rocks.
From Salon ● Aug. 6, 2026
This comes at a time when Beijing is polishing its image abroad as it cements its role as a global power.
From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026
My house chores included polishing my dad’s shoes and his 1956 Oldsmobile Super 88.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 9, 2026
There’s a great deal of polishing being done.
From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
