refurbish
Americanverb (used with object)
-
refurbishes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
refurbished,
past participle, past
-
refurbishing
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
refurbishsimple
-
refurbishessimple
-
have refurbishedperfect
-
has refurbishedperfect
-
am refurbishingprogressive
-
are refurbishingprogressive
-
is refurbishingprogressive
-
have been refurbishingperfect progressive
-
has been refurbishingperfect progressive
Past
-
refurbishedsimple
-
had refurbishedperfect
-
was refurbishingprogressive
-
were refurbishingprogressive
-
had been refurbishingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of refurbish
Explanation
Whether it’s a bike, an old computer, or a tennis stadium, when you refurbish something you clean it up and make it look or perform better. When you refurbish something, you generally keep the structure the same but improve its looks and possibly its functionality. For example, if you renovate a room you may make it "new again" with structural changes, such as tearing down walls and altering its original design. If you refurbish it, however, you will most likely focus on making it look better with cosmetic changes, such as painting it. The word refurbish is also often used to describe secondhand technology that has been rebuilt to restore function by replacing a component that has failed.
Vocabulary lists containing refurbish
100 SAT words Beginning with "R"
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The Suffix -ish, Part 2
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Undefeated
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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.
See Examples For:
Under CEO Niccol, Starbucks has tried to refurbish its coffeehouses to make them more welcoming, and has also moved to clean up its online ordering and pickup process.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026
The cynical Erika knows better, convinced he’s a PR tool for a nation hoping to refurbish its tarnished reputation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
Other measures included an increase in Gatwick Express services from December and a programme to refurbish train toilets and remove graffiti across the fleet.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
Privately held Restore Robotics has the legal clearance to refurbish used da Vinci surgical robotic instruments, which it then sells back to hospitals at a discount.
From Barron's ● Apr. 21, 2026
This would be a time to find a sheltered place beside a stream to rest and refurbish.
From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck
During the winter season the department typically takes a break in mosquito surveillance and refurbishes their traps.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 27, 2026
The company then refurbishes and resells the suitcases.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 24, 2026
Doug Bush, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, said the U.S. no longer buys new Abrams, but uses older ones as “seed vehicles” and refurbishes them.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 25, 2023
Music Magpie refurbishes about 400,000 tech items every year.
From BBC ● Dec. 8, 2022
He worked in the barbershop for a while, then got a job working for Free Venture, an environmentally certified nonprofit that refurbishes and recycles e-waste on-site.
From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater
The Haitians were paying taxes and refurbishing the downcast city; sometimes, they even refurbished houses they were only renting.
From Slate ● Oct. 28, 2026
They added that, once restored and refurbished, the building would be "used for the benefit of the wider community of Middleton who rightly cherish it as an important part of Middleton's rich and varied heritage".
From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026
I’d also highly encourage you to check out reputable refurbished options, following the guidance of my colleague Nicole Nguyen for safe shopping.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
It will be located on the former site of the Golden Bear Theatre and will overlook the recently refurbished kiddie area, Looney Tunes Land.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026
After sprucing it up a little, Mr. Clem advertised a drawing in the paper “for a name more befitting this fine, refurbished, modern establishment.”
From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns
The Haitians were paying taxes and refurbishing the downcast city; sometimes, they even refurbished houses they were only renting.
From Slate ● Oct. 28, 2026
McCormick, who has proposed several shipbuilding bills with Democrats, has pushed for refurbishing existing U.S. shipyards and building brand-new facilities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026
The Harland and Wolff shipyard is to spend £3m refurbishing its famous yellow cranes, Samson and Goliath.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
The leasing option could also benefit Apple’s refurbishing program, Feinseth said.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
Building the synchrotron and the hot lab and refurbishing the 184-inch would cost at least another $605,000.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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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.
