How to pronounce refine
Say it like ruh-FYNE. Refine has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FYNE).
- ruh
- FYNE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Refine pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- FYNESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of refine
American and British speakers say refine in essentially the same way: /rəˈfaɪn/ in the US and /rɪˈfaɪn/ in the UK.
British respelling: rih-FYNE.
What does refine mean?
- To purify; reduce to a fine, unmixed, or pure state; to free from impurities.“to refine gold”
- To become pure; to be cleared of impure matter.
- To purify of coarseness, vulgarity, inelegance, etc.; to polish.“to refine someone's manners”
Where does refine come from?
From re- + fine.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- polish
- fine-tune
- down
- complicate
- rarify
- elaborate
- rectify
Words that rhyme with refine
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of refine.
Questions about saying refine
How do you pronounce refine?
Say ruh-FYNE. The American pronunciation is /rəˈfaɪn/. In British English it is /rɪˈfaɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in refine?
Refine has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FYNE). Broken into parts: ruh · FYNE.
Do Americans and Brits say refine the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rəˈfaɪn/ and the British form is /rɪˈfaɪn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.