purify
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /pjˈʊrɪfˌaɪ/
US
- /ˈpjʊrəˌfaɪ/
Description
- clean
- remove what is unwanted
- make clean or pure
To purify something is to remove what is dirty, harmful, or unwanted so it becomes clean or pure. You can talk about purifying water by taking out germs or chemicals, or purifying metal by removing other materials from it. The idea is that something mixed, dirty, or spoiled is made cleaner and better.
Purify is not only used for physical cleaning. It can also be used in moral or spiritual ways. A story may describe someone trying to purify their heart or intentions, meaning they want to become more honest, good, or free from wrong. In many traditions, rituals are performed to purify a person or a place before an important event.
The word "purify" means to remove dirt, harmful matter, or anything seen as impure from something so that it becomes clean, pure, or better in quality. It is used in everyday language, science, religion, and literature. For example, if scientists purify water, they remove bacteria, chemicals, or other pollutants so the water is safer to use.
The word is often used for physical substances. Water can be purified, air can be purified, and metals or chemicals can be purified during industrial or laboratory processes. In these cases, the meaning is very direct: unwanted material is taken out, and the part you want is left behind.
But purify is also used in moral, emotional, or spiritual contexts. Someone may want to purify their thoughts, motives, or soul, meaning they want to become more sincere, innocent, or morally clean. In many religions and cultural traditions, washing, fire, smoke, fasting, or prayer may be used as symbols of purification.
In stories and essays, the word can suggest a process of change: getting rid of what is harmful, corrupt, or unclean in order to reach a better state. Because of that, purify often carries a serious tone. It is stronger than simply "clean" and often suggests deep removal of impurity, whether the impurity is physical, moral, or spiritual.
So whether you are talking about filtering water, processing metal, or seeking spiritual cleansing, purify describes the act of removing what should not be there so that something becomes cleaner, purer, or fit for its purpose.
Examples
- 1
Drinking water
This filter can purify river water and make it safe to drink.
- 2
Urban air
Certain trees can help purify the air in busy cities.
- 3
Body function
Your kidneys remove waste and purify the blood.
- 4
Religious ritual
Before entering the shrine, visitors washed their hands to purify themselves.
Phrase
purify yourself
make yourself ready in a physical or spiritual way
- 5
Political cleanup
The new mayor promised to purify city government of corruption.
Pattern
purify X of Y
remove bad things from X
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- purifyverb
Forms
- purifiedpast tenseverb
- purifying-ing formverb
- purifiesverb