fresh
/freʃ/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
- 1.
New, recently made, or recently picked. Fresh food or air is clean, cool, and not old. It can also mean lively, new, or not used before.
- We need fresh bread for breakfast.
- The room felt fresh after the rain.
- She had a fresh idea for the project.
- 2.
Rested and not tired. If you feel fresh, you have energy again after sleep or a break.
- I feel fresh after a short nap.
- He looked fresh at the meeting.
- Take a break and come back fresh.
Adinary Nuance
Fresh is broader than words like 'new' and 'recent'. It often suggests something is not old, not stale, and still feels clean or full of life. Use 'fresh' for food, air, ideas, and a person who is rested. Use 'new' when you only mean recently made or bought.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- tươi
- Spanish
- fresco
- Chinese
- 新鲜
- Japanese
- 新鮮な
- Korean
- 신선한
Etymology
From Old English fresc, related to Old Dutch and Old High German words meaning 'fresh' or 'new'. The word has been used in English since early medieval times.
Common phrases
fresh airfresh foodfresh startfresh idea
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is fresh the same as new?
- Not exactly. Fresh often means new, but it can also suggest clean, cool, or not tired.
- Can I say fresh water?
- Yes. Fresh water means water that is safe to drink, or not salty.
- Is fresh formal or informal?
- It is common in both spoken and written English. It is not a formal-only word.
- What is a fresh start?
- A fresh start means a new beginning after a problem, mistake, or delay.