What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
refine
Example
The chef refined the recipe to make it more flavorful. [refine: verb]
Example
The company is constantly refining its products to meet customer needs. [refining: gerund or present participle]
filter
Example
I need to filter the water before drinking it. [filter: verb]
Example
The search engine uses algorithms to filter out irrelevant results. [filtering: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Filter is more commonly used than refine in everyday language. Filter is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while refine is less common and often used in technical or specialized contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between refine and filter?
Both refine and filter can be used in formal and informal contexts, but refine is more likely to be used in technical or specialized contexts, while filter is more likely to be used in everyday language.
