Fresh — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective adverb noun /ˈfresh/

Meaning & Definition of Fresh

Fresh (adjective)

  1. having its original qualities unimpaired
  2. full of or renewed in vigor, refreshed
  3. not stale, sour, or decayed

Fresh (adverb)

  1. just recently, newly

Fresh (noun)

  1. an increased flow or rush (as of water), freshet
  2. a stream, spring, or pool of fresh water

Fresh (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being in an original and unused or unspoiled state

    "the restaurant uses only really fresh ingredients in all of its dishes"

    similar: brand-new, mint, pristine, span-new, virgin, virginal
    related: unaltered, unblemished, unbruised, uncontaminated, undamaged, undefiled, unharmed, unhurt, unimpaired, uninjured, unmarred, unpolluted, unsoiled, unspoiled, unsullied, untainted, untouched, unworn, new, spick-and-span
    opposite: stale
    near: blemished, broken, bruised, damaged, defaced, defiled, disfigured, harmed, hurt, impaired, injured, marred, soiled, sullied, tainted, faded, shopworn, used, well-worn, worn, contaminated, polluted, spoiled, hand-me-down, secondhand

  2. displaying or marked by rude boldness

    "if you are fresh with the art teacher, she'll give you a detention immediately"

    similar: arch, audacious, bold, bold-faced, brash, brassbound, brassy, brazen, brazen-faced, cheeky, cocksure, cocky, impertinent, impudent, insolent, nervy, sassy, saucy, wise
    related: assertive, forward, obtrusive, defiant, disrespectful, shameless, unabashed, unblushing, bluff, blunt, curt, cute, facetious, flip, flippant, pert, smart, smart-aleck, smart-alecky, lippy, mouthy
    opposite: meek, mousy, retiring, shy, timid
    near: demure, humble, modest, courteous, genteel, mannerly, polite, proper, deferential, respectful, abashed, ashamed, blushing, embarrassed, shamefaced, gentle, mild, inconspicuous, unobtrusive

  3. not known or experienced before

    "a fresh look at the situation"

    similar: new, novel, original, strange, unaccustomed, unfamiliar, unheard-of, unknown, unprecedented
    related: innovative, unique, nontraditional, unconventional, untried, unused, unworn, pathbreaking, pioneering, trailblazing
    opposite: familiar, hackneyed, old, time-honored, tired, warmed-over
    near: conventional, established, traditional, tried, tried-and-true, derivative, imitative

  4. resulting in an increase in amount or number

    "she's making fresh changes on top of the existing ones"

    similar: added, additional, another, else, farther, further, more, other
    related: accessory, adjunct, collateral, extraneous, peripheral, side, supplemental, supplementary, new, excess, extra, plus, spare, supernumerary, supervenient, surplus, complementary, contributory
    near: fewer, less

  5. being in the latest or current fashion

    "those are some fresh threads you have on, man!"

    similar: à la mode, au courant, chic, cool (slang), exclusive, fashionable, happening, hip, in, modish, sharp, smart, snappy, stylish, supercool, swell, swish, trendy, voguish
    related: downtown, edgy, funky, dapper, dashing, dressy, kicky, natty, rakish, sassy, saucy, spiffy, spruce, chichi, classy, flossy, haute, nobby, posh, ritzy, soigné, swank, elegant, graceful, handsome, majestic, refined, sophisticated, stately, tasteful, understated, doggish, doggy, flashy, gallant, dandyish, dudish, foppish, ultrachic, ultracool, ultrahip, ultraposh, ultrasmart, ultrasophisticated
    opposite: dowdy, out, outmoded, styleless, unchic, uncool, unfashionable, unmodish, unstylish
    near: cheesy, tacky, unattractive, unbecoming, graceless, inelegant, tasteless, trashy, unhandsome, frowsy, sloppy, slovenly, unkempt, untidy, disheveled, messy, mussy, rumpled, wrinkled, shabby, sleazy

Fresh (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in runoff, freshet

    similar: arroyo, billabong (Australian), freshet, runoff, beck (British), bourn, brook, brooklet, burn (British), creek, gill (British), rill, rivulet, run (chiefly Midland), runlet, runnel, streamlet, bayou, coulee, slough, stream, wash, canal, channel, cut, cutoff, gut, kill, millrace, millstream, race, watercourse, waterway, affluent, branch, confluent, distributary, influent, tributary

Related Entry: Breath (noun)

Breath is a different word from Fresh. The synonyms below are for breath, not for fresh.

  1. a momentary halt in an activity

    "let's all take a breath before continuing this discussion"

    similar: break, breather, interruption, lull, pause, recess
    related: time-out, interim, interlude, intermission, interval, respite, rest, cessation, discontinuance, downtime, ending, expiration, finishing, hitch, lapse, stoppage, stopping, termination, abeyance, moratorium, surcease, suspension, discontinuity, gap, hiatus
    near: continuation, endurance, persistence, progress, progression, extension, prolongation

  2. a slight or gentle movement of air

    "a sweet breath caressed her cheek as she sat in the garden"

    similar: air, breeze, puff, waft, zephyr
    related: current, draft, whiff, sea breeze, blast, blow, flurry, gale, headwind, northeaster, norther, northwester, southeaster, southwester, tailwind, westerly, wind, squall, tempest, tornado, windstorm, airflow
    near: calm

  3. an almost imperceptible sign of something

    "the mornings are already getting warmer, and there is a breath of spring in the air"

    similar: flicker, glimmer, hint, suggestion, tang, touch, trace, whiff
    related: inkling, intimation, scent, wind, evidence, indication, mark, sign
    near: permeation, pervasion, saturation

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Fresh

The most common words with a similar meaning to Fresh:

British: beck, burn, gill
Slang: cool
Australian: billabong
Chiefly Midland: run
brand-new, mint, pristine, span-new, virgin, virginal, arch, audacious, bold, bold-faced, brash, brassbound, brassy, brazen, brazen-faced, cheeky, cocksure, cocky, impertinent, impudent, insolent, nervy, sassy, saucy, wise, new, novel, original, strange, unaccustomed, unfamiliar, unheard-of, unknown, unprecedented, added, additional, another, else, farther, further

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Fresh

Words with the opposite meaning of Fresh:

stale, meek, mousy, retiring, shy, timid, familiar, hackneyed, old, time-honored, tired, warmed-over, dowdy, out, outmoded, styleless, unchic, uncool, unfashionable, unmodish, unstylish

Related Words for Fresh

unaltered, unblemished, unbruised, uncontaminated, undamaged, undefiled, unharmed, unhurt, unimpaired, uninjured, unmarred, unpolluted, unsoiled, unspoiled, unsullied, untainted, untouched, unworn, spick-and-span, assertive, forward, obtrusive, defiant, disrespectful, shameless, unabashed, unblushing, bluff, blunt, curt

Near Antonyms of Fresh

blemished, broken, bruised, damaged, defaced, defiled, disfigured, harmed, hurt, impaired, injured, marred, soiled, sullied, tainted, faded, shopworn, used, well-worn, worn, contaminated, polluted, spoiled, hand-me-down, secondhand, demure, humble, modest, courteous, genteel

Word Forms of Fresh

Derived words: freshly (adverb), freshness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Fresh

Middle English, from Anglo-French fresch, freis, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German frisc fresh; akin to Old English fersc fresh

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Fresh

Words & Phrases Containing Fresh

fresh blood, fresh breeze, fresh gale, fresh water, fresh as a daisy, fresh-faced

Frequently Asked Questions about Fresh

What does "Fresh" mean?

"Fresh" means having its original qualities unimpaired. As an an adjective, an adverb and a noun, it is defined as: having its original qualities unimpaired. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Fresh"?

Other words for "Fresh" include brand-new, mint, pristine, span-new, virgin, virginal, arch and audacious. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Fresh" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Fresh"?

There are 207 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Fresh". Common alternatives include brand-new, mint, pristine, span-new, virgin, virginal, arch, audacious, bold and bold-faced.

What is the opposite of "Fresh"?

Antonyms of "Fresh" include stale, meek, mousy, retiring, shy, timid, familiar and hackneyed. Near antonyms include blemished, broken, bruised and damaged.

How do you use "Fresh" in a sentence?

Examples of "Fresh" in a sentence: "the restaurant uses only really fresh ingredients in all of its dishes"; "if you are fresh with the art teacher, she'll give you a detention immediately"; "a fresh look at the situation".

Is "Fresh" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Fresh" can be used as an adjective, an adverb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Fresh" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Fresh" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Fresh"?

"Fresh" is pronounced /ˈfresh/.