Meanings
plural refreshments
- countableuncountableThe process of refreshing; a means of restoring strength, energy or vigour.
They purſued this indeterminate courſe for ſix miles, when a public-houſe preſenting itſelf to their view, there was a propoſal made to halt for refreſhment, and they diſpofed of themſelves accordingly, as the conveniencies of the place would permit.
1751, [Tobias] Smollett, “He Is Concerned in a Dangerous Adventure with a Certain Gardener; […]”, in The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume I, London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC, page 137Synonyms: reinvigoration, revival, restoration, renewal, renovation, reanimation, repair
- countableplural normallyusuallyThat which refreshes, such as a light snack or drink.
All refreshments will be provided by the hosts.
1 more example
He was very friendly and polite to John, and after giving us a slight look, he called a groom to take us to our boxes, and invited John to take some refreshment.
[1877], Anna Sewell, “Earlshall”, in Black Beauty: […], London: Jarrold and Sons, […], →OCLC, part II, page 101 - countableuncountableThe result of being refreshed.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe process of refreshing; a means of restoring strength, energy or vigour.
More synonyms by meaning
nounactivity that refreshes and recreates; activity that renews your health and spirits by enjoyment and relaxation
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Old Frenchrefrescher
- Middle Englishrefreschement
- Englishrefreshment
Recorded since 1665; either directly or via Middle English refreschement, from Old French refrescher (12th century; modern French rafraîchir), itself from re- (“again”) + fresche (“fresh”) (modern French frais; from a Germanic source, cognate with Old High German frisc, modern German frisch, Dutch fris, etc.)
More words from Middle English, Old French
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Ancient Greek ἀναψυχή
- ἀναψυχή (anapsukhḗ)process of refreshing
Bulgarian освежаване, ободряване
- освежаване (osvežavane)process of refreshing
- ободряване (obodrjavane)process of refreshing
- лека закуска (leka zakuska)light snack or drink
- освежителна напитка (osvežitelna napitka)light snack or drink
Dutch verfrissing, verademing
- verfrissingprocess of refreshing
- verademingprocess of refreshing
- versnaperinglight snack or drink
Finnish virkistys, piristys
- virkistysprocess of refreshing
- piristysprocess of refreshing
- virkistäminenprocess of refreshing
- piristäminenprocess of refreshing
- virvokelight snack or drink
- virvoitusjuomalight snack or drink
French rafraîchissement, rafraîchissement
- rafraîchissementprocess of refreshing
- rafraîchissementlight snack or drink
German Erfrischung, Erfrischung
- Erfrischungprocess of refreshing
- Erfrischunglight snack or drink
- Snacklight snack or drink
Greek αναψυκτικό
- αναψυκτικό (anapsyktikó)light snack or drink
Hebrew כִּבּוּד
- כִּבּוּד (kibbúd)light snack or drink
Hungarian felfrissülés, felüdülés
- felfrissülésprocess of refreshing
- felüdülésprocess of refreshing
- frissítő hideg étel-itallight snack or drink
- büféárulight snack or drink
- rágcsálnivalólight snack or drink
- üdítőlight snack or drink
- üdítőitallight snack or drink
Japanese 気分転換
- 気分転換 (kibuntenkan)process of refreshing
Norwegian Bokmål forfriskning
- forfriskninglight snack or drink
Polish odświeżenie, odświeżenia
- odświeżenieprocess of refreshing
- odświeżeniaprocess of refreshing
Portuguese refresco
- refrescolight snack or drink
Russian освеже́ние, заку́ска
- освеже́ние (osvežénije)process of refreshing
- заку́ска (zakúska)light snack or drink
Spanish refrescamiento, refrigerio
- refrescamientoprocess of refreshing
- refrigeriolight snack or drink
- refrescolight snack or drink
- agasajolight snack or drink
Swedish förfriskning
- förfriskninglight snack or drink
Tamil புத்துணர்ச்சி, புத்துணர்வு
- புத்துணர்ச்சி (puttuṇarcci)process of refreshing
- புத்துணர்வு (puttuṇarvu)process of refreshing
- சிற்றுண்டி (ciṟṟuṇṭi)light snack or drink
Cite this entry
refreshment. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/refreshment
“refreshment.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/refreshment. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “refreshment,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/refreshment.
Source: refreshment on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.