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purify

B1
verb

Pronunciation

UK

  • /pjˈʊrɪfˌaɪ/

US

  • /ˈpjʊrəˌfaɪ/

Description

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.

Examples

  1. 1

    Drinking water

    This filter can purify river water and make it safe to drink.

  2. 2

    Urban air

    Certain trees can help purify the air in busy cities.

  3. 3

    Body function

    Your kidneys remove waste and purify the blood.

  4. 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. 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