refresh
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /riˈfrɛʃ/noun
US
- /rɪˈfrɛʃ/
Meanings
Verb
to reload or update digital content on a screen
to restore energy, alertness, or vitality
to bring something back to mind again
More meaningsFewer meanings
to make something feel new, current, or improved again
Noun
an act of reloading or updating digital content
Beyond the definition
Imagine a hot summer day. A cool glass of lemonade can refresh you, making you feel new again! But "refresh" isn't just about drinks. It means to restore something to a good condition, give it new energy, or make it like new. You might refresh your memory before an exam by reviewing notes, or refresh a webpage to see the latest updates. A good night's sleep can refresh your mind and body. Think of it as hitting the "reset" button for something that's feeling tired or stale.
To refresh means to restore vitality, renew strength, or bring back to a favorable condition. It implies a return to a better state after a period of depletion or stagnation. For example: "The rain refreshed the parched earth," suggesting the land was revived by water.
"Refresh" can be used in both literal and figurative ways. Literally, it means to provide something invigorating—like a cool drink or a relaxing bath. Figuratively, it suggests restoring mental clarity or updating information. You might refresh your skills with a training course, refresh your understanding of a topic by reading about it again, or refresh a website to see the latest content.
In technology, "refresh" has a specific meaning: to reload a webpage or update data on a screen. This action brings you the most current information available.
You'll often hear "refresh" used with things that need revitalization—your energy levels, your memory, your surroundings, or even digital content. It's about bringing something back to life, making it feel new and improved. So, whether you're seeking a physical boost or an intellectual update, to refresh is to renew and revitalize.
Examples
- 1
Physical recovery
A cold shower helped refresh me after the long flight.
- 2
Travel break
We stopped at a cafe to refresh ourselves before the drive home.
- 3
Memory
I read the first chapter again to refresh my memory before class.
- Phraserefresh my memory
help me remember something again
- 4
Web page
Press this button to refresh the page if it stops loading.
- Phraserefresh the page
make the website load again
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Live updates
The app refreshes every few seconds, so the latest prices appear automatically.
- 6
Weather
The rain refreshed the air after a hot afternoon.
- 7
Brand update
The company refreshed its logo to give the brand a more modern look.
- 8
Training materials
We need to refresh the training materials before the new team starts.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- refresh yourself
- feel refreshed
- refresh the mind
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- refreshverb
Forms
- refreshing-ing formverb
- refreshedpast tenseverb
- refreshesverb