purify
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
to make something clean by removing dirt, chemicals, or other harmful things.
to remove contaminants or foreign elements from a substance to achieve a refined state.
Simple“The new filter helps to purify the water from the local river.”
In context“The laboratory uses a sophisticated distillation process to purify the chemical samples before they are used in the experiment.”
UsageOften used with 'from' to indicate the substance being removed.
Antonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
to free someone or something from guilt, sin, or bad thoughts.
to free from ceremonial or moral defilement; to purge of sin or guilt.
Simple“In many cultures, people use smoke or water to purify their homes.”
In context“The ancient ritual was designed to purify the soul of the penitent before they entered the inner sanctum of the temple.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is often found in religious or historical contexts; in everyday modern English, 'cleanse' is a more common alternative for emotional contexts.
“Simple habits such as purifying drinking water, washing hands before meals and after using the bathroom, and practicing good camp hygiene remain some of the easiest ways to stay healthy outdoors.”
From Middle English purifien, purifyen, from Old French purifier, purifiier, from Latin pūrificō, pūrificāre, from pūrus (“pure; clean”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.