noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK, US:/ɹɪˈfɹɛʃ.mənt/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:R AH0 F R EH1 SH M AH0 N T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The process of refreshing; a means of restoring strength, energy or vigour.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
That which refreshes, such as a light snack or drink.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, plural-normally, usually
Examples
All refreshments will be provided by the hosts.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
The result of being refreshed.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
activity that refreshes and recreates; activity that renews your health and spirits by enjoyment and relaxation
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
time for rest and refreshment by the pool
days of joyous recreation with his friends
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: recreation
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: rejuvenation
5
noun
Meaning 5
snacks and drinks served as a light meal
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: bite, collation, snack
History
Etymology
Recorded since 1665; either directly or via Middle English refreschement, from Old French refrescher (12th century; modern French rafraîchir), itself from re- (“again”) + fresche (“fresh”) (modern French frais; from a Germanic source, cognate with Old High German frisc, modern German frisch, Dutch fris, etc.)
Across languages
Translations
48 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
освежаване
(osvežavane)
— process of refreshing
Bulgarian:
ободряване
(obodrjavane)
— process of refreshing
Dutch:
verfrissing
— process of refreshing
Dutch:
verademing
— process of refreshing
Finnish:
virkistys
— process of refreshing
Finnish:
piristys
— process of refreshing
Finnish:
virkistäminen
— process of refreshing
Finnish:
piristäminen
— process of refreshing
French:
rafraîchissement
— process of refreshing
German:
Erfrischung
— process of refreshing
Ancient Greek:
ἀναψυχή
(anapsukhḗ)
— process of refreshing
Hungarian:
felfrissülés
— process of refreshing
Hungarian:
felüdülés
— process of refreshing
Japanese:
気分転換
(kibuntenkan)
— process of refreshing
Macedonian:
освежување
(osvežuvanje)
— process of refreshing
Polish:
odświeżenie
— process of refreshing
Polish:
odświeżenia
— process of refreshing
Russian:
освеже́ние
(osvežénije)
— process of refreshing
Spanish:
refrescamiento
— process of refreshing
Tamil:
புத்துணர்ச்சி
(puttuṇarcci)
— process of refreshing
Tamil:
புத்துணர்வு
(puttuṇarvu)
— process of refreshing
Bulgarian:
лека закуска
(leka zakuska)
— light snack or drink
Bulgarian:
освежителна напитка
(osvežitelna napitka)
— light snack or drink
Dutch:
versnapering
— light snack or drink
Finnish:
virvoke
— light snack or drink
Finnish:
virvoitusjuoma
— light snack or drink
French:
rafraîchissement
— light snack or drink
German:
Erfrischung
— light snack or drink
German:
Snack
— light snack or drink
Greek:
αναψυκτικό
(anapsyktikó)
— light snack or drink
Hebrew:
כִּבּוּד
(kibbúd)
— light snack or drink
Hungarian:
frissítő hideg étel-ital
— light snack or drink
Hungarian:
büféáru
— light snack or drink
Hungarian:
rágcsálnivaló
— light snack or drink
Hungarian:
üdítő
— light snack or drink
Hungarian:
üdítőital
— light snack or drink
Central Kurdish:
ساردەمەنی
(sardemenî)
— light snack or drink
Macedonian:
освежителен пијалок
(osvežitelen pijalok)
— light snack or drink
Khiamniungan Naga:
thínglóuh
— light snack or drink
Norwegian Bokmål:
forfriskning
— light snack or drink
Norwegian Nynorsk:
forfrisking
— light snack or drink
Portuguese:
refresco
— light snack or drink
Russian:
заку́ска
(zakúska)
— light snack or drink
Spanish:
refrigerio
— light snack or drink
Spanish:
refresco
— light snack or drink
Spanish:
agasajo
— light snack or drink
Swedish:
förfriskning
— light snack or drink
Tamil:
சிற்றுண்டி
(ciṟṟuṇṭi)
— light snack or drink
