refresh

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitive

   To give someone new energy or make them feel less tired, hot or thirsty.

   Grammar: Takes an object, often a person or yourself: a cold drink refreshed him.

   Patterns

   • refresh someone
   • refresh yourself

   A cool shower refreshed her after the long hike.

   He stopped at the café to refresh himself with iced tea.

   A short nap can refresh a tired mind.

2. 2verbtransitive or intransitivecomputing

   To reload a web page or app so that it shows the latest content.

   Grammar: Takes an object (refresh the page) or none (the page refreshes automatically).

   Patterns

   • refresh a page
   • refresh the browser

   Try refreshing the page if the video does not load.

   The feed refreshes every thirty seconds.

   She kept refreshing her inbox, waiting for the reply.

3. 3verbtransitive

   To make something fresh or up to date again.

   Grammar: Used with memory, stock, appearance or a skill.

   Patterns

   • refresh your memory
   • refresh the look

   I need to refresh my memory before the exam.

   The shop refreshed its window display for spring.

   A new coat of paint refreshed the old room.

Word forms

Common combinations

refresh your memory

Let me look at my notes to refresh my memory.

refresh the page

If the site is slow, refresh the page.

feel refreshed

After the swim, we all felt refreshed.

refresh a drink

The waiter offered to refresh our drinks.

refresh your skills

The course lets teachers refresh their skills.

Synonyms and how they differ

revive

Revive suggests bringing back from a weak or near-lifeless state, whereas refresh only freshens something that is tired.

reload

Reload is the technical term for fetching a page again, while refresh also covers energy and memory.

freshen

Freshen often means making something look or smell cleaner, and is less common for people than refresh.

invigorate

Invigorate is stronger and more formal, implying a burst of energy rather than mild relief.

Opposites

Word family

refreshing adjective

pleasantly cooling or new

refreshment noun

a light snack or drink

refreshments noun

snacks and drinks served at an event

refresher noun

something that renews knowledge, as in a refresher course

refreshingly adverb

in a pleasantly new way

Commonly confused: refresh or refreshment?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “refresh”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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