French word

sophistiquer

Pronunciation

IPA/sofistike/

Meaning

  • verbrefine

Example

Elle veut sophistiquer sa tenue pour la soirée.

She wants to refine her outfit for the evening.

Illustration for sophistiquer (refine)

More examples

Je vais sophistiquer un plat simple ce soir.

I am going to refine a simple dish tonight.

Core concept

A plain outfit or object receiving a polished, refined finish.

Common phrases

  • sophistiquer un plat

    refine a dish

  • sophistiquer sa tenue

    refine one's outfit

Similar words

embellir: To make someone's appearance more beautiful.
soigner: To groom oneself with careful attention to every detail.

Definition in French

Donner à quelque chose un aspect ou un style plus élégant et raffiné.

Word origin

French sophistiquer was formed from the adjective sophistiqué with the regular verb ending -er, ultimately from Greek sophistikos through Latin sophisticus.

Usage tips

  • Sophistiquer takes a direct object, as in sophistiquer sa tenue, without a preposition before the thing being refined.

Other meanings

  • complicateverb

Opposites

Related words

  • sophistiquésophisticatedadjective
  • sophisticationsophisticationnoun

Word lists with this word