freshen

/ˈfreʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfreʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfre-shən/ (ame, mw)

freshen — verb

  • freshenpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • freshenshe / she / it
  • freshenedpast simple
  • freshening-ing form

1. to make a person, place, or thing feel or look cleaner, cooler, or more pleasant

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

to make a person, place, or thing feel or look cleaner, cooler, or more pleasant again, or to become like this

例句

Joon opened the kitchen window to freshen the room before the guests arrived.

freshen + room / place

A little cold water freshened Hugo's face after the dusty bus ride.

freshen + person/body part

同義詞
  • refresh

    more often suggests restoring energy, not just making something cleaner or pleasanter

  • brighten

    focuses on adding light, colour, or cheer rather than coolness or cleanliness

  • air out

    specifically means letting stale air or smell leave a place

反義詞
  • stale

    intransitive; to become old, stuffy, or no longer fresh

  • soil

    to make something dirty instead of cleaner

文法句型

freshen + object

freshen yourself

[room/air/place] freshens

用法筆記

This sense can take an object ('freshen the room') or a reflexive pronoun ('freshen yourself'). In everyday speech, people often use 'freshen up' when they mean washing or tidying themselves quickly.

常見錯誤

❌I freshened before dinner.
✅I freshened myself before dinner.' or 'I freshened up before dinner.
💡For personal washing or tidying, plain 'freshen' usually needs an object or the phrasal verb.

2. if the wind freshens, it starts to blow harder and often feels cooler

2.動詞不及物C1
釋義

if the wind freshens, it starts to blow harder and often feels cooler

例句

By late afternoon, the wind freshened and pushed small waves against the pier.

the wind freshened

Selim checked the sails again when the sea breeze freshened near sunset.

sea breeze freshened

同義詞
  • strengthen

    more general and can describe many things besides wind

  • pick up

    informal; often used in speech about wind becoming stronger

  • increase

    neutral and broader, without the specific weather tone

反義詞
  • ease

    used when wind becomes weaker

文法句型

the wind freshens

the breeze freshens

wind freshens later / overnight

用法筆記

This sense is mostly used in formal weather language, sailing, and sea writing. Unlike sense 1, it does not take an object and refers only to wind or breeze becoming stronger.

常見錯誤

❌The rain freshened in the evening.
✅The wind freshened in the evening.
💡This sense is used for wind or breeze growing stronger, not for rain becoming heavier.

3. to pour a small extra amount into someone's glass, usually wine or another alcoh

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

to pour a small extra amount into someone's glass, usually wine or another alcoholic drink

例句

The host quietly freshened Renata's wine glass before the toast began.

freshen + [person's] wine glass

Would you like me to freshen your whisky while the others choose dessert?

freshen + drink (polite offer)

同義詞
  • top up

    more common in everyday speech for adding a little more to a drink

  • refill

    broader and plainer; used for many containers, not only drinks in service settings

反義詞
  • empty

    to remove what is in the glass instead of adding more

文法句型

freshen + [person's] drink

freshen + glass + with + [liquid]

用法筆記

This is a fairly formal or old-fashioned hospitality word. The object is the drink or glass, not the person, and 'refill' or 'top up' is more common in everyday conversation.

常見錯誤

❌Please freshen me.
✅Please freshen my drink.
💡In this sense, the thing that receives more liquid is the drink or glass, not the person.