refine
To improve something by making small, incremental changes to make it more polished, efficient, or elegant. It can also refer to the process of purifying a substance, such as sugar or oil, by removing impurities.
Examples
3 of 5I need to refine my recipe for the perfect sourdough bread by adjusting the water content.
I need to improve my sourdough bread recipe by changing the amount of water.
The committee will refine the legislative proposal before presenting it to the assembly.
The committee will polish the law proposal before showing it to the assembly.
You should really refine your jokes if you want people to actually laugh.
You should work on your jokes if you want people to laugh.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of 're-fine': To make something 'fine' (excellent) again and again until it is perfect.
Quick Quiz
The software developers are working to _______ the user interface before the official launch.
Correct!
The correct answer is: refine
Examples
I need to refine my recipe for the perfect sourdough bread by adjusting the water content.
everydayI need to improve my sourdough bread recipe by changing the amount of water.
The committee will refine the legislative proposal before presenting it to the assembly.
formalThe committee will polish the law proposal before showing it to the assembly.
You should really refine your jokes if you want people to actually laugh.
informalYou should work on your jokes if you want people to laugh.
Researchers must refine their methodology to eliminate potential biases in the data collection.
academicResearchers must improve their methods to remove bias in data collection.
Our main goal this quarter is to refine our sales process to increase conversion rates.
businessOur main goal this quarter is to optimize our sales process to boost conversions.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
refine upon
to improve or add more detail to an existing idea
refined taste
having sophisticated or elegant preferences
highly refined
extremely polished or processed
Often Confused With
To define is to state the meaning of a word; to refine is to improve something that already exists.
To redefine is to change the fundamental nature or meaning of something, whereas refine just improves it.
Usage Notes
Use 'refine' when you are talking about making something better through small adjustments rather than a complete overhaul. It is also the standard term for the industrial processing of raw materials.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use 'refine' when they mean 'fix'. 'Fix' implies something was broken, while 'refine' implies it was already working but could be better.
Memory Tip
Think of 're-fine': To make something 'fine' (excellent) again and again until it is perfect.
Word Origin
From the Middle French 'raffiner', where 're-' (again) is added to 'affiner' (to make fine).
Grammar Patterns
Quick Quiz
The software developers are working to _______ the user interface before the official launch.
Correct!
The correct answer is: refine
Related Grammar Rules
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
people
A1People refers to a group of human beings or the general public. It is the standard plural form of the word 'person'.
put
A1To move something into a particular place or position. It is a fundamental verb used to describe the act of placing an object or setting a situation in a specific location.
mean
A1To have a specific sense or significance, especially when explaining a word or sign. It can also describe a person's intention or the importance of something to someone.
keep
A1To continue to have or hold something in your possession or at your disposal. It also means to remain in a specific state, condition, or position without changing.
begin
A1To start doing something or for an event to happen for the first time. It is often used to describe the first point of a process or activity.
seem
A1To give the impression of being something or having a particular quality based on what you see or hear. It is used to describe an appearance or feeling that may or may not be the actual truth.
help
A1To make it easier for someone to do something by offering your services, resources, or support. It can involve physical effort, providing information, or giving money to assist a person or a cause.
talk
A1To speak in order to give information or express ideas, feelings, or thoughts. It typically involves a conversation between two or more people or a person addressing an audience.
start
A1To begin doing something or to cause something to happen for the first time. It is frequently used when talking about movements, journeys, or making a machine or engine begin to work.
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