Library / English Dictionary

FRESHEN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make fresh again

Synonyms:

freshen; refresh; refreshen

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "freshen" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Also:

freshen up (become or make oneself fresh again)

Derivation:

freshener (anything that freshens)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Become or make oneself fresh again

Example:

She freshened up after the tennis game

Synonyms:

freshen; freshen up; refresh; refreshen

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "freshen" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "freshen"):

lave; wash up (wash one's face and hands)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Sense 3

Meaning:

Make (to feel) fresh

Example:

The cool water refreshed us

Synonyms:

freshen; refresh

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "freshen" is one way to...):

regenerate; renew (reestablish on a new, usually improved, basis or make new or like new)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "freshen"):

air; air out; vent; ventilate (expose to cool or cold air so as to cool or freshen)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

freshener (anything that freshens)

Credits

 Context examples: 

My wretched feet, flayed and swollen to lameness by the sharp air of January, began to heal and subside under the gentler breathings of April; the nights and mornings no longer by their Canadian temperature froze the very blood in our veins; we could now endure the play-hour passed in the garden: sometimes on a sunny day it began even to be pleasant and genial, and a greenness grew over those brown beds, which, freshening daily, suggested the thought that Hope traversed them at night, and left each morning brighter traces of her steps.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

I had a hope that this brisk treatment might freshen my wits a little; and I think it did them good, for I soon came to the conclusion that the first step I ought to take was, to try if my articles could be cancelled and the premium recovered.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

As night drew on, the clouds darkened and the wind freshened, so that when Maud and I ate supper it was with our mittens on and with me still steering and eating morsels between puffs.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

I thought sometimes I saw beyond its wild waters a shore, sweet as the hills of Beulah; and now and then a freshening gale, wakened by hope, bore my spirit triumphantly towards the bourne: but I could not reach it, even in fancy—a counteracting breeze blew off land, and continually drove me back.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Now he studied the sea to windward for signs of the wind slackening or freshening, now the Macedonia; and again, his eyes roved over every sail, and he gave commands to slack a sheet here a trifle, to come in on one there a trifle, till he was drawing out of the Ghost the last bit of speed she possessed.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)