furbish

[ fur-bish ]

verb (used with object)

1. to restore to freshness of appearance or good condition (often followed by up ):

   to furbish a run-down neighborhood; to furbish up one's command of a foreign language.

2. to polish.

furbish

/ ˈfɜːbɪʃ /

verb

1. to make bright by polishing; burnish
2. often foll by up to improve the appearance or condition of; renovate; restore

Derived Forms

• ˈfurbisher, noun

Other Words From

• furbish·er noun
• un·furbished adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of furbish¹

1350–1400; Middle English furbishen < Middle French forbiss-, long stem of forbir to polish, clean < Germanic; compare Old High German furban

Word History and Origins

Origin of furbish¹

C14: from Old French fourbir to polish, of Germanic origin

Example Sentences

She would have Sophie to look over all her “toilettes,” as she called frocks; to furbish up any that were “passées,” and to air and arrange the new.

From Literature

When Andrew Friedman arrived in Los Angeles, he hoped to furbish a player-development machine that hummed like the one in St. Louis.

From Los Angeles Times

PayPal has given its mobile app for iOS and Android a serious revamp, furbishing the software with a new, cleaner look, and putting its most popular function — sending and receiving money — front and center.

From The Verge

In turn, this trend should benefit the largest home improvement retailer, Home Depot, which depends on consumers who look to buy home improvement goods and services to furbish their newly bought/rented homes.

From Forbes

Depot depends on both new and existing house sales, as following the purchase, consumers look to buy home improvement goods and services to furbish their homes.

From Forbes