How to Use polish in a Sentence

polish

1 of 3 verb
  • He spent the summer polishing his math skills.
  • Use your cloths to polish each bowl.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Garbage in-polished garbage out.
    — Terdawn Deboe, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
  • But there’s still plenty to polish in his game.
    — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Clean and polish your wood tables once a month.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 29 May 2026
  • The hum of polishing wheels bleeds through half-open doors.
    — Parin Moradiya, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
  • The ketchup will help polish away all the water spots, too.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 8 June 2026
  • Cozy on top, polished on the bottom.
    — Kelsey Stewart, Glamour, 20 May 2026
  • For a shine, use a polishing rag.
    — Alicia Chilton, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Dec. 2025
  • Flaws and excess bronze are polished away.
    — Teagan Wolter, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Mar. 2026
  • And there is a school and a legacy to polish and to preserve.
    — Globe Columnist, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Dec. 2022
  • Finish on the fine side to polish and refine the edge.
    — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2025
  • Slow down before polishing the life out of your point.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 23 May 2026
  • The key to making your gelcoat shine like new is to polish first and then wax.
    — Max Inchausti, Field & Stream, 9 Jan. 2023
  • The master polished enough to stand against anything else in the playlist.
    — Chris Cardillo, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2025
  • To polish their look, use a lightweight-hold hairspray to lock the look in place.
    — Nicole Catanese, InStyle, 10 Mar. 2026
  • And anything vintage, just cleanse and polish it first.
    — Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2025
  • Swap to the higher grit stone and repeat the whole process to polish and set the edge.
    — Jesse Raub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Mar. 2026
  • And while heels can polish up any outfit, they’re not always made for all-day wear.
    — Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
  • The mix feels polished without pushing too much.
    — Alex Sales, Glamour, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Then, use your preferred AI tool to polish your draft.
    — William Arruda, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The goal is to lightly polish the surface rather than grind into it.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 17 May 2026
  • Use jelly polishes atop an opaque base!
    — Rebecca Norris, InStyle, 20 Jan. 2026
  • Or a set of silverware to polish when stainless steel works fine?
    — Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Belt buckles the size of dinner plates polished to a mirror shine.
    — Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 14 Apr. 2023
  • The fabric will stick to the Velcro and polish your floors.
    — Mallory Carra, The Spruce, 31 Dec. 2025
  • Dry well to remove any liquids left behind and help polish the chrome.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 4 June 2026
  • Plus, a sterling silver band is super easy to polish with a cloth.
    — Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Each 5-inch blade is forged and polished by hand to ensure a sharper blade that lasts longer.
    — Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Feb. 2023
  • Shoes must be polished, their brass must shine, and their uniforms must be clear of any stains or wrinkles.
    — Kaicey Baylor, CBS News, 17 June 2026

polish

2 of 3 noun
  • He's rude and lacks polish.
  • Did you use a wax polish on the table or an oil-based one?
  • I need more shoe polish.
  • The movie has the polish we've come to expect from that director.
  • Nude is a great gel polish option.
    — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 27 June 2026
  • Looking to add a bit more polish to your fall flip-flop outfit?
    — Kelsey Stiegman, Glamour, 30 July 2026
  • Let the lavish hue speak for itself with two coats of a milky pink polish.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 18 July 2026
  • Think of this as your favorite olive polish with a high-fashion twist.
    — Amanda Le, InStyle, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Cat-eye polish shimmers like the finest silk as a base to solid white tips.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 2 July 2026
  • If solid polish isn’t your style, add a few layered stripes to the mix.
    — Amanda Le, InStyle, 3 Aug. 2026
  • In this respect, assess the process based on its speed, not its polish.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • If pink isn’t your jam, a light lavender polish would look just as pretty.
    — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 19 July 2026
  • For a creamsicle shade with a bit more depth, opt for a polish that has a hint of pink.
    — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 12 July 2026
  • The heel is open, which is a nice touch in the summer heat, while the pointed toe adds polish.
    — Caitlyn Fitzpatrick, Travel + Leisure, 2 July 2026
  • Use a vibrant red or orange polish to trace the outline of your nail.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 13 July 2026
  • The ribbed hem adds a touch of polish, while the knit stays breathable and comfy for all day wear.
    — Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The light blue polish is cute and matchy-matchy when worn by the Clueless star way back when.
    — Lorena Meouchi, Vogue, 23 July 2026
  • This glowing take on guava nails features green polish with a pink cat-eye glint.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 29 June 2026
  • When someone needs a human and can’t find one, all that polish means nothing.
    — Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • Each is painted with one coat of sheer polish, then topped with a golden glitter.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 2 July 2026
  • One way to achieve this is by layering an opaque green glitter coat over a turquoise base polish.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Snag the polish, plus the full nail system kit for at-home manicures that last weeks at a time.
    — Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 4 June 2026
  • Ask whether everything needs the same level of polish, or whether a rough draft would do for one of them.
    — Andy Molinsky, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • Celebrity nail artists say nude polishes can range from sheer pinks and milky whites to beige, tan, brown, and mauve tones.
    — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 27 June 2026
  • Top Coat Once your polish is dry, seal it with a thick, glossy top coat for extra shine.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Navy cat-eye polish sparkles under 3D seashell ridges and a sprinkling of pearls.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 22 July 2026
  • Stop screening for polish, and start testing for the thing polish was standing in for.
    — Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • While there are many sheer pink polishes on the market, not many of them are suitable for rose water nails.
    — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The polish is vegan and 10-free.
    — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 27 June 2026
  • Rose water nails use a sheer jelly polish in rosy shades to deliver the faintest hint of baby pink.
    — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 8 Aug. 2026

Polish

3 of 3 adjective
  • The queen of the Polish town of Łeba does not wear a crown or sit on a throne.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Our cabbage rolls are a take on the classic Polish version of the dish.
    — Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2026
  • Late last year, the Polish border guard found tunnels dug under the wall.
    — Elizabeth Flock, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Polish your pitch so thoughtful allies rally around you all throughout the day.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Also serve Polish sausages, hamburgers, beef, hot wings, shrimp and more.
    — The Courier-Journal, 3 July 2023
  • The mother and child are both Polish, but have not been publicly identified.
    — Corin Cesaric, Peoplemag, 3 July 2023
  • An alarm on the wall went off, and Polish border guards quickly surrounded his group.
    — Elizabeth Flock, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
  • One of ours, a beautiful Polish hen, just keeled over for no discernible reason.
    — Sid Evans, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2026
  • The Polish border wall alone cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
    — Elizabeth Flock, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
  • David arrived nine months later, a 16-year-old Polish Jew who loved to sing.
    — Keren Blankfeld, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Jan. 2024
  • Polish border guards responded with tear gas and water cannons.
    — Elizabeth Flock, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
  • The delicious dumplings known as pierogis are for sale with cabbage rolls and smoked Polish sausage rings.
    — Bill Brownlee, Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2024
  • The Polish team replied with new critiques of the Croatians’ research.
    — Sara Talpos — Undark, STAT, 3 Feb. 2026
  • On a busy city street, passers-by stopped briefly for interviews last week with Polish news website WP.
    — CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Newsweek has contacted the Polish defense ministry for comment via email.
    — Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
  • In the 80th minute, with the score 2-2, a Polish corner clattered around the Swedish box.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Malevich, for instance, was born in Ukraine to Polish parents and lived in Russia for many years.
    — Constant Méheut, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024
  • Following the Middle Ages, the castle was home to Polish kings.
    — Steven Casale, Travel + Leisure, 31 Jan. 2024
  • Lanie comes from a big Polish/Greek family, and her parents have been married for over 30 years.
    — Dana Rose Falcone, Peoplemag, 20 Dec. 2023
  • The only thing these Polish cities have in common is their nestling along the Vistula River.
    — Sally Susman, Time, 27 Jan. 2026
  • The menu’s Polish cabbage soup (kapusta) and calf fries are a callback to 1922.
    — Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Jan. 2024
  • This event, known at the Baptism of Poland, is considered the birth of the modern Polish nation.
    — Danuta Hamlin, Fox News, 17 June 2023
  • On Wednesday, Italian Croatian and Polish teams were on their way to the base camp.
    — Mostafa Salem, CNN, 7 Sep. 2023
  • Members of those groups also took part in atrocities against Jewish and Polish civilians.
    — Thomas Gibbons-Neff, New York Times, 5 June 2023
  • That means the full package of rewards, including the car and apartment, has yet to be claimed by a Polish athlete at these Games.
    — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Fanning starred in the film as Violet, a Polish teenager who wants to be a pop star despite the obstacles in her way.
    — Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2023
  • Since then, Polish Boy has gone on to refer to the style of hot dog rather than just slang for Polish kielbasa in general.
    — Alex Darus, cleveland, 17 Aug. 2023
  • To the sound of belches of fear, black-and-white footage shot on a thermal imaging camera shows a young Polish girl risking her life to cycle to the camp at night.
    — Hazlitt, 6 Mar. 2024
  • Three others were Britons, one was Irish, one Australian, one was a Polish citizen.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
  • In some Polish areas, up to 20% of the population are recent refugees from Ukraine.
    — Byjeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 27 Sep. 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'polish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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