# freshen up

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/freshen-up
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to wash oneself

phrasal verb · CEFR B1

to wash your face and hands, brush your hair, or change clothes to feel clean.

For teachers: to wash or groom oneself briefly to improve one's appearance or sense of hygiene, especially after travel or work.

- I need to freshen up at the hotel before we go out for dinner.
- After the twelve-hour flight, the delegates requested a few minutes to freshen up before the introductory press conference began.

Usage: Often used reflexively with 'myself', 'yourself', etc., or as an intransitive verb.

### 2. to renew something

phrasal verb · CEFR B2

to make something feel new, clean, or interesting again.

For teachers: to make something fresh or new again; to revivify a space, object, or concept.

- We decided to freshen up the living room with a coat of white paint.
- The marketing team suggested freshening up the brand's image with a more contemporary logo and a vibrant colour palette.

Usage: Transitive; takes a direct object such as a room, a drink, or a design.

## Examples

- I need to freshen up before we go to dinner.
- After the long flight, she went straight to the hotel bathroom to freshen up before the meeting.
- The weary travelers were given twenty minutes to freshen up in the lounge before the evening's formal reception commenced.

## Usage notes

- Teaching tip: this is a useful 'polite' euphemism; contrast it with 'wash' which sounds more functional and less about the feeling of being 'fresh'.

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