# fresh

/ˈfɹɛʃ/ (US) · /fɹˈɛʃ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fresh
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. new or recent

adjective · CEFR A2

made, received, or finished very recently.

For teachers: newly produced, obtained, or experienced; having occurred or been made only a short time ago.

- The bakery sells fresh bread every morning at six o'clock.
- The detective looked for fresh tracks in the mud, hoping the rain hadn't yet washed away the suspect's trail.

### 2. not preserved or spoiled

adjective · CEFR A2

food that is not frozen, canned, or starting to go bad.

For teachers: referring to food in its natural state; not preserved by canning, freezing, or drying, and not showing signs of decay.

- I prefer using fresh tomatoes instead of the ones from a tin.
- The chef insists on sourcing fresh seafood daily from local markets to ensure the highest quality for the evening service.

### 3. not salty

adjective · CEFR B1

water that does not contain salt, like the water in a lake or river.

For teachers: of water: not containing salt; non-saline.

- Many animals live in fresh water and cannot survive in the ocean.
- The expedition struggled to find a reliable source of fresh water after their primary desalination unit failed mid-journey.

### 4. rested and energetic

adjective · CEFR B1

feeling full of energy and ready to start again after a rest.

For teachers: rested and invigorated; having regained energy after a period of sleep or relaxation.

- I feel fresh and ready for work after my holiday in the mountains.
- After a brief nap and a cup of coffee, the pilot felt fresh enough to complete the final leg of the long-haul flight.

### 5. cool and clean

adjective · CEFR B1

air or weather that is cool, clean, and pleasant.

For teachers: of weather or air: invigoratingly cool, clean, and refreshing.

- She opened the window to let some fresh air into the stuffy room.
- The morning was bright and fresh, with a light breeze that carried the scent of pine from the nearby forest.

### 6. rude or cheeky

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

behaving in a way that is a bit rude or shows a lack of respect.

For teachers: behaving in a disrespectful, cheeky, or overly confident manner. Often used to describe a younger person's attitude toward an elder.

- Don't get fresh with me, young man; watch your tone.
- The teacher warned the student that getting fresh in class would result in an immediate detention.

### 7. cool or fashionable

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang

very good, stylish, or impressive.

For teachers: excellent, stylish, or highly fashionable. This sense is heavily associated with hip-hop culture and urban slang.

- Those new trainers you bought are really fresh.
- The DJ played a selection of fresh tracks that kept the crowd dancing until the early hours of the morning.

### 8. very recently

adverb · CEFR B2

just recently happened.

For teachers: recently or newly; used to indicate that an action has just been completed.

- Be careful where you sit; that is fresh painted wood.
- The fresh baked aroma of the pastries drew customers in from the street before the shop had even officially opened.

Usage: Usually placed before a past participle acting as an adjective.

## Examples

- I always buy fresh bread from the bakery in the morning.
- The chef insists on using fresh herbs rather than dried ones to ensure the sauce has the best flavor.
- While the supermarket offers convenience, the local farmers' market remains the preferred source for fresh produce harvested within hours of being sold to the public.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.