FRESHEN

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does freshen mean? 

• FRESHEN (verb)
  The verb FRESHEN has 3 senses:

1. make (to feel) fresh

2. become or make oneself fresh again

3. make fresh again

  Familiarity information: FRESHEN used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FRESHEN (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they freshen    ... he / she / it freshens   
Past simple: freshened   
Past participle: freshened   
-ing form: freshening   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make (to feel) fresh

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

freshen; refresh

Context example:

The cool water refreshed us

Hypernyms (to "freshen" is one way to...):

regenerate; renew (reestablish on a new, usually improved, basis or make new or like new)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "freshen"):

air; air out; vent; ventilate (expose to cool or cold air so as to cool or freshen)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

freshener (anything that freshens)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Become or make oneself fresh again

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

freshen; freshen up; refresh; refreshen

Context example:

She freshened up after the tennis game

Hypernyms (to "freshen" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "freshen"):

lave; wash up (wash one's face and hands)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Sense 3

Meaning:

Make fresh again

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

freshen; refresh; refreshen

Hypernyms (to "freshen" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Also:

freshen up (become or make oneself fresh again)

Derivation:

freshener (anything that freshens)

 Context examples 

The wind freshened in the afternoon, raising a stiffer sea and trying the boat and me severely.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

I've been working away at mathematics till my head is in a muddle, and I'm going to freshen my wits by a brisk turn.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

I am rusty in my shorthand—see what unexpected prosperity does for us—so it may be as well to freshen it up again with an exercise anyhow....

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

I have been green, too, Miss Eyre,—ay, grass green: not a more vernal tint freshens you now than once freshened me.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

As the wind still freshened the yard was lowered half way down the mast in the morning.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There, with spirits freshened, and thoughts a little relieved, she had taken a few turns, when she saw Mr. Knightley passing through the garden door, and coming towards her.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

“Why, she sings ballads, sometimes, to freshen up the others a little when they're out of spirits,” said Traddles.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The wind was freshening rapidly, the Ghost heeling over more and more, and by the time the state-room was ready she was dashing through the water at a lively clip.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Having arranged all these matters, looked them through, and put them all to rights, she was just turning to the house with spirits freshened up for the demands of the two little boys, as well as of their grandpapa, when the great iron sweep-gate opened, and two persons entered whom she had never less expected to see together—Frank Churchill, with Harriet leaning on his arm—actually Harriet!

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

There came a plump of rain towards mid-day and the breeze died down, but it freshened again before nightfall, and Goodwin Hawtayne veered his sheet and held head for the south. Next morning they had passed Belle Isle, and ran through the midst of a fleet of transports returning from Guienne.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)