freshening

verb

present participle of freshen
as in restoring
to bring back to a former condition or vigor cool glasses of lemonade freshened us after a day of hard work outside

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of freshening These aromatherapy inhalers are perfect for freshening your immediate air. — Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2026 Lemon can be used for everything from freshening bed linens to removing stains from clothes–including cleaning your microwave. — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 27 June 2026 Neither does freshening with sprays or perfumed products like dryer sheets. — Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 June 2026 Health aside, an air purifier can also make your space smell better by eliminating cooking smells and freshening the air, all while subtly boosting your design scheme, like the sleek and powerful Coway Airmega that’s our top overall pick. — Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 27 Jan. 2026 After freshening it up for its journey across the world, the video cuts to a phone call with Blue's lawyer, who reveals the good news that her ban from the country has been lifted. — Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025 Created by Hank Green and Bernie Su and starring Ashley Clements as Lizzie Bennet, this series adaptation stays true to the original while freshening the storylines and reimagining some of the relationships. — Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 29 Nov. 2025 After all, gum is the ultimate multitasker – freshening breath, calming nerves and even sharpening focus. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for freshening
  1. restoring
  2. reviving
  3. refreshing
  4. recreating
  5. renewing
  6. renovating
Verb
  • Conservation efforts have included replacing cattle with free-ranging bison, restoring Rio Grande cutthroat trout habitat, and using prescribed fire and forest management to improve ecosystem health.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities described the destruction as catastrophic, and both Kansas and local officials issued emergency declarations as residents began a recovery expected to extend well beyond restoring electricity.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of restoring
Verb
  • Tulane leaders say reviving the iconic landmark marks a major stride in putting behind the hurricane's dark days.
    — JACK BROOK, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Tulane leaders say reviving the iconic landmark marks a major stride in putting behind the hurricane’s dark days.
    — Jack Brook, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of reviving
Verb
  • As a psychologist who works with teens, Sophia Choukas-Bradley has heard from clients who spend an hour after having posted on social media obsessively refreshing their screens, watching their likes accumulate.
    — Angela Yang, NBC news, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Start the bidding frenzy, and then calmly use the time like a true fantasy veteran by reloading your plate of taquitos and refreshing your beverage.
    — Sports Betting, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of refreshing
Verb
  • Marie Claire describes the trend as deliberately recreating dark circles and other signs of tiredness that makeup has traditionally been used to hide.
    — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The new video has nearly two million views and also dovetails with a recent TikTok trend of people recreating the original.
    — Katie Bain, Billboard, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of recreating
Verb
  • Last week, City & State reported payments were late again this year in 3-K and Pre-K, and The New York Times later reported the same setbacks were also straining the new 2-K pilot program, renewing scrutiny of the delays.
    — Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Many years later, Parton and Dean celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows.
    — Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of renewing
Verb
  • More than 2 in 5 renovating homeowners are now installing specialty toilets that include bidets, according to an industry report cited by The New York Times.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • But unofficial estimates by outside observers place the price tag of renovating the temple at more than $2 billion.
    — Brandon Griggs, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of renovating

Browse Nearby Words

freshened
freshening
freshens
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Freshening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/freshening. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All