English Reference
Adverb

afresh

adv. manner
B2 Upper Intermediate US /əˈfɹɛʃ/ UK /ɐfɹˈɛʃ/ afresh

adv.starting something again from the very beginning. You use this when you want to forget the past and begin a new process.

adv.starting again from the beginning; anew. Often used to describe a process that is being restarted with a clean slate or without previous bias.


SIMPLE

We need to look at the problem afresh.

CONTEXTUAL

After the failed merger, the company decided to approach the project afresh with a new team.

COMPLEX

The committee agreed to review the evidence afresh, ensuring that no prior assumptions influenced the final verdict of the inquiry.

The state government agreed to scrap three exams , which will be held afresh.

The Guardian· 11 Aug 2026

From Middle English a-fresche, equivalent to a- + fresh. Compare Old English afersċean (“to freshen; become fresh”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Middle English a-fresche
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated