polished; polishing; polishes
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
: to become smooth or glossy by or as if by friction
polisher
noun
1
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
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Poland, the Poles, or Polish
: the Slavic language of the Poles
Synonyms
Examples of polish in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 4 Feb. 2025
This prompt works wonders for polishing your work and pointing out improvements.
—Kim Komando, Fox News, 3 Feb. 2025
Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 30 Jan. 2025
With old-school polish and technique, the songwriter-producer has helped some of pop's biggest names score successes by blending retro and modern styles.
—Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 28 Jan. 2025
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025
Step forward Poland international Robert Lewandowski, who would become one of the greatest goalscorers in world football, but who was playing for Polish side Lech Poznan at that time.
—Caoimhe O'Neill, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for polish 
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Verb
Gentle physical exfoliants can also help polish away dead skin without irritation.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 4 Feb. 2025
This prompt works wonders for polishing your work and pointing out improvements.
—Kim Komando, Fox News, 3 Feb. 2025
Noun
The verdict: Its flavor was nothing short of despicably vile, which made Orly’s nail-biting polish both a gift and a curse along my journey to end my bad habit.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 30 Jan. 2025
With old-school polish and technique, the songwriter-producer has helped some of pop's biggest names score successes by blending retro and modern styles.
—Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
Duda has backed Ukraine but there have been tensions between Kyiv and Warsaw over the exhumation of Polish victims of World War II atrocities in Ukraine.
—Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025
Step forward Poland international Robert Lewandowski, who would become one of the greatest goalscorers in world football, but who was playing for Polish side Lech Poznan at that time.
—Caoimhe O'Neill, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for polish
Dictionary Entries Near polish
Cite this Entry
“Polish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polish. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
polish
1 of 4 verb
pol·ish
ˈpäl-ish 
1
: to make smooth and glossy usually by rubbing
2
: to smooth or improve in manners, condition, or style
3
: to bring to a highly developed or finished state
polish a technique
polisher
noun
polish
2 of 4 noun1
a
: a smooth glossy surface : luster
b
: good manners : refinement
2
: the action or process of polishing
3
: a substance prepared for use in polishing
shoe polish
nail polish
Polish
3 of 4 adjective
Pol·ish
ˈpō-lish
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Poland, the Poles, or Polish
Polish
4 of 4 noun
: the Slavic language of the Poles
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