FRESHEN UP

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does freshen up mean? 

• FRESHEN UP (verb)
  The verb FRESHEN UP has 2 senses:

1. make brighter and prettier

2. become or make oneself fresh again

  Familiarity information: FRESHEN UP used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FRESHEN UP (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make brighter and prettier

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

freshen up; refurbish; renovate

Context example:

My wife wants us to renovate

Hypernyms (to "freshen up" 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 up"):

gentrify (renovate so as to make it conform to middle-class aspirations)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

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 up" 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 up"):

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

Sentence frames:

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

 Context examples 

“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)