Fresh

/freʃ/

adjectiveBeginner🔥Very CommonQuality
4 meanings1 idiom/phrase3 questions

Definitions

4 meanings
1

Recently made, harvested, or obtained; not stale or preserved; new or recent.

/freʃ/

adjectivepositiveBeginner
Quality

Recently made, obtained, or experienced.

We ate fresh strawberries picked from the garden.

💡 Simply: Imagine biting into a juicy apple right off the tree, or opening a package of cookies that just came out of the oven. That's what we mean by 'fresh' – new, and at its best.

👶 For kids: Like something that is new or just made, like a fresh cookie!

More Examples

2

The movie offered a fresh perspective on the topic.

3

He needed a fresh start after his mistakes.

How It's Used

Food

"The bakery had fresh bread every morning."

News

"We got fresh information on the case this morning."

2

Clean, pure, and invigorating; not stale or polluted.

/freʃ/

adjectivepositiveBeginner
Quality

Clean and pure; invigorating.

The fresh mountain air invigorated us.

💡 Simply: Like the feeling you get when you step outside after the rain, or when you take a deep breath of crisp, clean air. It's all about things being clean, healthy, and invigorating.

👶 For kids: Like clean air or water, or how you feel after a bath!

More Examples

2

The clean sheets gave a fresh feeling.

3

After a long run, a fresh shower was amazing.

How It's Used

Environment

"The mountain air was fresh and clean."

Personal Hygiene

"She felt fresh after taking a shower."

Tip:Think of the feeling after a cool shower.
3

Energetic and lively; not tired or worn out.

/freʃ/

adjectivepositivemedium
Quality

Energetic and lively.

The team had a fresh attitude after the new coach.

💡 Simply: Feeling full of energy and ready to go. Like when you've had a good night's sleep, and you wake up feeling bright and full of life, ready to face the day.

👶 For kids: Full of energy and happy like a kid who has just woke up from a good nap!

More Examples

2

She felt fresh and ready to tackle the project.

3

His fresh perspective brought new ideas to the table.

How It's Used

Personality

"The child had a fresh and energetic personality."

Appearance

"She looked fresh and vibrant after her vacation."

Tip:Think of feeling refreshed and ready to go.
4

Disrespectful or impudent in a way that is considered impolite or rude.

/freʃ/

adjectivenegativemedium
Behavior

Disrespectful or impudent.

The student was being fresh to his teacher.

💡 Simply: Being a little too cheeky or sassy. When someone steps over the line of being polite, and comes off as disrespectful or a little rude.

👶 For kids: Acting a little bit rude or cheeky.

More Examples

2

His fresh comments offended some of the guests.

3

I didn't appreciate her fresh remarks.

How It's Used

Informal Speech

"Don't be so fresh with your elders!"

Tip:Think of someone being too bold or sassy.

Idioms & expressions

fresh off the boat

Newly arrived from another country and therefore unfamiliar with the local customs.

"He was fresh off the boat and didn't know the local customs."

From Old English *fersc*, *fresk*, meaning 'not salt, sweet, pure; recently made or obtained'. Related to Old High German *frisc* and Latin *priscus* (old).

Historically, the word "fresh" was often used in the context of describing the quality of food and the state of a person's health, as well as to denote something new or recently made.

Memory tip

Think of fresh fruit, just picked from the tree.

Word Origin

LanguageOld English
Original meaning

"sweet; not salt; pure; recently made or obtained"

fresh airfresh foodfresh ideasfresh startfresh water

Common misspellings

freschfressh

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written