Word
refreshingly
Phoneticsre·fresh·ing·ly, stress on the second syllable
US/ɹiˈfɹɛʃɪŋɫi/
UK/ɹɪfɹˈɛʃɪŋli/
Adverb of manner
Definition
adv. in a way that is pleasantly new, different, or surprising. You use this when something makes you feel better because it is not boring or expected.
adv. in a manner that provides a pleasant change or relief from what is usual or expected.
Examples
“The new manager is refreshingly honest about the company's problems.”
“After a long day of complex meetings, her simple and direct explanation was refreshingly clear.”
“The film's ending was refreshingly unpredictable, subverting the tired tropes that usually dominate the romantic comedy genre.”
Examples
simple
“The new manager is refreshingly honest about the company's problems.”
contextual
“After a long day of complex meetings, her simple and direct explanation was refreshingly clear.”
complex
“The film's ending was refreshingly unpredictable, subverting the tired tropes that usually dominate the romantic comedy genre.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “refreshingly” in context.
Adjective
01. refreshingly candid
“The CEO gave a refreshingly candid interview about the company's recent failures.”
adv + adj
02. refreshingly different
“The new restaurant offers a refreshingly different take on traditional Italian cuisine.”
adv + adj
03. refreshingly direct
“I found her refreshingly direct approach to the problem very helpful.”
adv + adj
04. refreshingly honest
“It was refreshingly honest of him to admit that he didn't know the answer.”
adv + adj
05. refreshingly simple
“The app's design is refreshingly simple and easy to navigate.”
adv + adj
06. a refreshingly cool breeze
“A refreshingly cool breeze blew in from the sea during the heatwave.”
07. be refreshingly free from
“The report was refreshingly free from technical jargon and corporate buzzwords.”
08. find something refreshingly new
“Many voters found his political platform to be refreshingly new.”
Usage
Often used to modify adjectives that describe a positive quality, such as 'honest', 'candid', or 'different'.
Real-World Examples
“At the Met, an exhibition of 16 pieces transports viewers to a place and time when the virtues of artworks were refreshingly different from ours today.” Etymology
From refreshing + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/refreshingly