What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
distill
Example
The distillation process separates the alcohol from the water in the mixture. [distillation: noun]
Example
The chemist distilled the solution to obtain a pure sample. [distilled: past tense]
refine
Example
The oil is refined to remove impurities and increase its value. [refined: past participle]
Example
She refined her painting technique through years of practice. [refine: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Refine is more commonly used than distill in everyday language. Refine is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while distill is less common and often used in scientific or technical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between distill and refine?
Both distill and refine can be used in formal and informal contexts, but distill may be more commonly associated with technical or scientific writing, while refine can be used in a wider range of contexts.
