polish
1 of 4verb
pol·ish ˈpä-lish 
polished; polishing; polishes
transitive verb
1
: to make smooth and glossy usually by friction : burnish
2
: to smooth, soften, or refine in manners or condition
3
: to bring to a highly developed, finished, or refined state : perfect
intransitive verb
: to become smooth or glossy by or as if by friction
polisher noun
polish
2 of 4noun (1)
1
a
: a smooth glossy surface : luster
b
: freedom from rudeness or coarseness : culture
c
: a state of high development or refinement
2
: the action or process of polishing
3
: a preparation that is used to produce a gloss and often a color for the protection and decoration of a surface
furniture polish
nail polish
Polish
3 of 4adjective
Pol·ish ˈpō-lish
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Poland, the Poles, or Polish
Polish
4 of 4noun (2)
: the Slavic language of the Poles
Synonyms
Verb
- buff
- burnish
- dress
- furbish
- gloss
- grind
- rub
- shine
- smooth
- smoothen
Noun (1)
- accomplishment
- civilization
- couth
- cultivation
- culture
- refinement
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb He spent the summer polishing his math skills. you'll need to polish your shoes with a clean rag before the performance Noun (1) I need more shoe polish. Did you use a wax polish on the table or an oil-based one? The movie has the polish we've come to expect from that director. He's rude and lacks polish. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Sep. 2022 Press the suits, polish the sunglasses, and assemble the boardroom because production for Succession season 4 has officially commenced! Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE.com, 28 June 2022 The concept of learn-to-earn that many Web3 learning hubs are deploying today will incentivize anyone to learn and polish their skills and knowledge. Tommaso Di Bartolo, Forbes, 28 June 2022 What: Learn to play chess, or polish your skills, with instructor David Harris. Mary Colurso | Mcolurso@al.com, al, 17 June 2022 This cupboard staple can remove spots from glasses, polish up faucets and chrome fixtures, and de-gunk showerheads. Jamie Kim, Good Housekeeping, 2 June 2022 But critics say the league is part of a broader political effort by Saudi Arabia to buy legitimacy and polish its global image. Tom Schad, USA TODAY, 10 June 2022 Once, Hollywood mined the tabloids to polish the occasional, exceptionally scandalous gem. Molly Fischer, The New Yorker, 13 June 2022 Bentonite clay will polish the enamel on your teeth to fade stains and reveal a brighter, whiter smile. ELLE, 14 May 2022 Megan Decker, refinery29.com, 13 Sep. 2022 To bring this trend with you into fall, try a gold shimmery polish. Katie Berohn, Good Housekeeping, 13 Sep. 2022 While Jenner went with a light pink color for her manicure, her little girl picked out a bright orange polish. Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 1 Sep. 2022 The pinky nail, however, is the star of the show with a glittery polish on it. Hedy Phillips, PEOPLE.com, 1 July 2022 Topical nail strengtheners work by delivering vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and skin care ingredients like hyaluronic acid straight to the nail in the form of a clear polish. Jillian Ruffo, Harper's BAZAAR, 21 June 2022 The mirror finish is carried over to the high-polish case and bracelet and the artist’s signature is featured on the sapphire crystal caseback. Carol Besler, Robb Report, 29 Aug. 2022 Right now, Amazon shoppers can snag a best-selling nail polish set from Modelones, ever-popular Stasher sandwich bags, and a Jockey bralette at a whopping 64 percent off. Annie Burdick, Peoplemag, 27 Aug. 2022 Angelina added polish with her leather Saint Laurent Icare tote. Alice Cary, Vogue, 26 Aug. 2022 See More
Verb
Then follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully to clean and polish your brass item. Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Sep. 2022 Press the suits, polish the sunglasses, and assemble the boardroom because production for Succession season 4 has officially commenced! Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE.com, 28 June 2022 The concept of learn-to-earn that many Web3 learning hubs are deploying today will incentivize anyone to learn and polish their skills and knowledge. Tommaso Di Bartolo, Forbes, 28 June 2022 What: Learn to play chess, or polish your skills, with instructor David Harris. Mary Colurso | Mcolurso@al.com, al, 17 June 2022 This cupboard staple can remove spots from glasses, polish up faucets and chrome fixtures, and de-gunk showerheads. Jamie Kim, Good Housekeeping, 2 June 2022 But critics say the league is part of a broader political effort by Saudi Arabia to buy legitimacy and polish its global image. Tom Schad, USA TODAY, 10 June 2022 Once, Hollywood mined the tabloids to polish the occasional, exceptionally scandalous gem. Molly Fischer, The New Yorker, 13 June 2022 Bentonite clay will polish the enamel on your teeth to fade stains and reveal a brighter, whiter smile. ELLE, 14 May 2022 Noun
Goldstein used a brown polish for Julia Garner's Emmy's manicure, too. Megan Decker, refinery29.com, 13 Sep. 2022 To bring this trend with you into fall, try a gold shimmery polish. Katie Berohn, Good Housekeeping, 13 Sep. 2022 While Jenner went with a light pink color for her manicure, her little girl picked out a bright orange polish. Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 1 Sep. 2022 The pinky nail, however, is the star of the show with a glittery polish on it. Hedy Phillips, PEOPLE.com, 1 July 2022 Topical nail strengtheners work by delivering vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and skin care ingredients like hyaluronic acid straight to the nail in the form of a clear polish. Jillian Ruffo, Harper's BAZAAR, 21 June 2022 The mirror finish is carried over to the high-polish case and bracelet and the artist’s signature is featured on the sapphire crystal caseback. Carol Besler, Robb Report, 29 Aug. 2022 Right now, Amazon shoppers can snag a best-selling nail polish set from Modelones, ever-popular Stasher sandwich bags, and a Jockey bralette at a whopping 64 percent off. Annie Burdick, Peoplemag, 27 Aug. 2022 Angelina added polish with her leather Saint Laurent Icare tote. Alice Cary, Vogue, 26 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English polisshen, from Anglo-French poliss-, stem of polir, from Latin polire
Adjective
Pole
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun (1)
1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1b
Adjective
1592, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
1555, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing polish
Kids Definition
polish 1 of 4
verb
pol·ish ˈpä-lish
polished; polishing
1
: to make smooth and shiny usually by rubbing
polish silver
2
: to improve in manners, condition, or style
I took a few hours to polish my speech.
polish
2 of 4noun
1
: a smooth and shiny surface
the polish of the table
2
: a substance for making a surface smooth and shiny
shoe polish
metal polish
3
: good manners : refinement
Polish
3 of 4adjective
Pol·ish ˈpō-lish
: of or relating to Poland, the Poles, or Polish
Polish
4 of 4noun
: the language of the Poles
polish 1 of 2
noun
1
as in refinement
a high level of taste and enlightenment as a result of extensive intellectual training and exposure to the arts acquired a great deal of polish during his year abroad Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- refinement
- accomplishment
- education
- culture
- knowledge
- civilization
- cultivation
- manners
- literacy
- learning
- elegance
- scholarship
- erudition
- sophistication
- couth
- intellectuality
- intellectualism
- taste
- cosmopolitanism
- civility
- breeding
- politeness
- gentility
- grace
- urbanity
- genteelness
- class
- courteousness
- courtesy
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- barbarism
- philistinism
- ignorance
- illiteracy
- rusticity
- coarseness
- crudeness
- vulgarity
- parochialism
- provincialism
- barbarianism
- boorishness
- unsophistication
- churlishness
- clownishness
2
as in gleam
brightness created by light reflected from a surface buffed the silver plate to a high polish Synonyms & Similar Words
- gleam
- shine
- sheen
- gloss
- glint
- glow
- glare
- luster
- sparkle
- burnish
- shimmer
- lustre
- luminance
- illumination
- finish
- twinkle
- glisten
- brilliance
- glimmer
- glaze
- iridescence
- luminescence
- irradiation
- blink
- luminosity
- radiance
- radiancy
- flicker
- refulgence
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dullness
- flatness
- drabness
- dirtiness
- dulness
- dimness
- paleness
- grayness
- dinginess
- cloudiness
- gloom
- obscurity
- murkiness
- somberness
- obscureness
polish
2 of 2verb
1
as in to rub
to make smooth or glossy usually by repeatedly applying surface pressure you'll need to polish your shoes with a clean rag before the performance Synonyms & Similar Words
- rub
- smooth
- gloss
- shine
- coat
- scrub
- buff
- varnish
- furbish
- burnish
- lacquer
- dress
- finish
- sand
- scrape
- glaze
- grind
- slick
- smoothen
- sleek
- veneer
- bob
- japan
- file
- sandpaper
- face
- bone
- brighten
- sandblast
- scour
- rasp
- lap
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- roughen
- ruffle
- rough (up)
- scuff (up)
2
as in to finish
to bring (something) to a state where nothing remains to be done once you polish the article a bit, it'll be ready to submit Synonyms & Similar Words
- finish
- complete
- perfect
- get through
- finalize
- consummate
- accomplish
- do
- improve
- effect
- fulfill
- execute
- shine
- stick out
- achieve
- better
- refine
- enhance
- fulfil
- carry out
- enrich
- perform
- machine
- ameliorate
- carry through
- amend
- discharge
- meliorate
- follow through (with)
- touch up
- round (off or out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- drop
- abandon
- quit
- discontinue
- desert
- forsake