refreshment
gb/ɹɪfɹˈɛʃmənt/ us/ɹɪfɹˈɛʃmənt/
B1
English
~ 8200
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
snacks and drinks at events
Snacks and drinks that are given or sold at a meeting, party, or other event.
Usage pattern:
to serve refreshments [at an event]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"a refreshment" to mean one drink or one snack. In normal English, people usually say "refreshments" in the plural, or use a more specific word like "a drink" or "a snack". Another mistake is to use "refreshment" instead of "meal"; refreshments are usually light snacks and drinks, not a full meal.
Synonyms
snacks (More informal and usually refers only to small amounts of food, not drinks.)
|
food and drink (Broader and more general; lacks the event or hospitality nuance of "refreshments".)
Antonyms
full meal (Refers to a complete, larger amount of food, the opposite of light snacks and drinks.)
Collocations
light refreshments
|serve refreshments
|refreshment stand
|refreshment area
|refreshment tent
|refreshment counter
Themes
daily life
|food
|socializing
|food_drink
|daily_life
|communication
Examples
- Light refreshments will be served after the ceremony in the main hall.
- There was a table of refreshments at the back of the room for conference attendees.
- We stopped at a refreshment stand to buy drinks during the game.
- Tickets include entry to the show and complimentary refreshments during the interval.
- Volunteers provided refreshments for the runners at each water station.
Learner examples
- Refreshments will be ready after the meeting.
- They put the refreshments on a long table.
- We bought refreshments from the small shop near the park.
- Free refreshments are available in the waiting area.
- The teacher brought refreshments for the class party.
Noun
formal
B2
state
2
state of renewed energy or comfort
The good feeling you get when you are less tired or bored after you rest, eat or drink, or do something you enjoy.
Usage pattern:
[someone] finds refreshment [in/from something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse "refreshment" with the verb "refresh" or the adjective "refreshing" and say things like *"I am refreshment" instead of "I am refreshed". Another mistake is using it where a simpler word like "rest" or "break" is more natural in everyday speech, since "refreshment" sounds rather formal or literary in this sense.
Synonyms
rejuvenation (Suggests a stronger or more complete return of energy, often used in wellness or lifestyle contexts.)
|
revival (Focuses on coming back to life or activity, sometimes used metaphorically or in religious contexts.)
Antonyms
exhaustion (Describes the opposite state, where someone feels extremely tired and lacking in energy.)
|
boredom (Opposite in terms of mental interest; refreshment restores interest while boredom is lack of it.)
Collocations
physical refreshment
|mental refreshment
|spiritual refreshment
|seek refreshment
|find refreshment in
|in need of refreshment
Themes
emotions
|health
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- After a brief period of refreshment, the team returned to the discussion.
- She finds great refreshment in walking alone by the sea.
- The weekend away provided much-needed mental refreshment.
- Silence and solitude can be a source of real refreshment for some people.
- The spa promises rest, relaxation, and complete refreshment for body and mind.
Learner examples
- A short walk gave him refreshment after the long day.
- Music is a kind of refreshment for her mind.
- The students were in need of refreshment after the long exam.
- The holiday was a time of refreshment for the whole family.
- Reading before bed brings refreshment to me.
Grammar
Dictionary form
refreshment
IPA
GB/ɹɪfɹˈɛʃmənt/
US/ɹɪfɹˈɛʃmənt/
Syllables & stress
re - fresh - ment (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (fresh)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: refreshment
- Plural: refreshment, refreshments
Word family
Forms
refreshments
noun
Core family
Related words
refresher
noun
refreshingly
adverb B2
Negative and opposite forms
unrefreshed
adjective
Expressions
light refreshments
1/lˈaɪt ɹɪfɹˈɛʃmənts/
fixed phrase
small snacks and drinks at events
Small snacks and drinks, not a full meal, that are served at a meeting, party, or other event.
Examples
- Light refreshments will be provided after the lecture.
- The invitation says that light refreshments will be served in the lobby.
- We offered light refreshments to guests while they waited.
refreshment break
1/ɹɪfɹˈɛʃmənt bɹˈeɪk/
fixed phrase
short pause for food or drink
A short time during a meeting, class, or event when people stop to eat, drink, or rest.
Examples
- We will take a ten-minute refreshment break at 11:00.
- The workshop includes a refreshment break in the middle of the morning.
- Please stay nearby during the refreshment break so we can restart on time.
refreshment stand
1/ɹɪfɹˈɛʃmənt stˈænd/
fixed phrase
small place selling snacks and drinks
A small shop, stall, or table where people can buy snacks and drinks.
Examples
- There is a refreshment stand near the entrance to the stadium.
- We stopped at the refreshment stand to get some water and popcorn.
- During the festival, several refreshment stands were set up around the park.