English words starting with R

A large room in a monastery, college, or other institution, where meals are served and eaten.

To mention or speak about someone or something.

An official who watches a game or match closely to ensure that the rules are followed.

(of an academic paper or journal) having been evaluated by one or more experts in the same field before publication to ensure quality and validity.

The activity or job of acting as a referee, especially in a sports match or contest.

The act of mentioning something or someone

Mentioned or cited as a source of information or evidence.

The action of mentioning or alluding to something.

A direct vote by the people of a country or region on a single important political question.

The specific thing in the real world that a word or phrase denotes or stands for.

Relating to or containing a reference to something else.

The act of sending someone or something to a different person or place for information, help, or action.

Past tense and past participle of refer.

To fill something again.

Designed to be filled again after being emptied.

to replace an existing loan with a new one, typically to get a lower interest rate or better terms.

the process of replacing an existing loan with a new one, typically to get a lower interest rate or better terms.

to remove impurities or unwanted elements from a substance

having or showing good education, taste, and polite behaviour

the process of making a substance purer or of improving something

A person or company that refines a raw material, especially oil or sugar.

A factory where a raw substance is made pure or converted into a more useful form, especially where oil or sugar is processed.

(gerund or present participle) The act of removing impurities or unwanted elements from a substance.

to apply a new finish to (a surface or object), especially to strip and re-varnish (wood) or to repaint (metal).

to apply a new finish (such as varnish, paint, or polish) to a surface, especially wood, to restore its appearance.

To repair or make changes to something, especially a ship, aircraft, or building, to make it suitable for use again.

The action or process of repairing, restoring, or equipping something again, especially a ship, vehicle, or piece of equipment.

(of a surface or body) to throw back (light, heat, or sound) without absorbing it.

The measure of the proportion of light or other radiation striking a surface which is reflected by it.

(of light, heat, or sound) thrown back from a surface.

The image of something in a mirror or on any reflective surface.

Thinking deeply about things; characterized by meditation.

In a way that involves careful thought or deep consideration.

the quality or state of being thoughtful and serious, often involving careful consideration of things.

The property of reflecting light or other radiation.

a surface or object that reflects light, sound, or other waves.

An action that is performed without conscious thought as a response to a stimulus.

Describing an action that the subject of a sentence performs on or to itself.

In a way that is done without conscious thought, as an automatic reaction.

The fact of being reflexive; the quality of a word, grammatical construction, or relationship that refers back to the subject or itself.

A system of massage used to relieve tension and treat illness, based on the theory that there are points on the feet, hands, and head linked to every part of the body.

The backward flow of a liquid, especially of stomach acid into the esophagus or of blood into the heart.

To plant new trees in an area where the original forest has been cut down or destroyed.

The process of planting trees on an area of land that has lost its forest.

to make changes to something in order to improve it, especially a law, system, or organization.

having or showing a desire to make changes and improvements to a system, law, or organization.

To arrange or prepare something, especially a computer disk or document, according to a new or different format or system.

The act of making an improvement, especially by changing a person's behavior or the structure of something.

having the intention or effect of reforming someone or something, especially by improving their behavior or character.

Changed or improved, especially by correcting errors or removing bad practices.

A person who works to change and improve something, especially a social or political system.

The present participle or gerund of the verb 'reform', meaning to make changes in something, especially an institution or practice, in order to improve it.

the belief in or advocacy of gradual social, political, or economic reform rather than revolutionary change.

a person who advocates or works for political or social reform.

to express something again in a different way, especially to make it clearer or more accurate.

Formulated or expressed again or in a different way.

The action or process of formulating something again or differently.

To cause light or other radiation to change direction when it passes at an angle from one medium into another of different density.

(of light or other radiation) having been deflected in passing obliquely through the interface between one medium and another or through a medium of varying density.

(of a lens or other body) causing light or other radiation to change direction when it enters at an angle

The fact or phenomenon of light, radio waves, etc. being deflected in passing obliquely through the interface between one medium and another or through a medium of varying density.

Describing the ability of a substance to make light change direction when it enters it at an angle.

A lens or other device that causes refraction, especially one used in a telescope to bend light and form an image.

stubbornly resistant to authority or control

To stop yourself from doing something, especially something you want to do.

The act or process of changing the way something is presented, perceived, or thought about.

To make someone feel less tired or less hot.

Feeling less tired or hot, or having more energy and enthusiasm

a course or period of instruction to review or update previous knowledge or skills.

serving to refresh or reinvigorate someone.

In a way that makes you feel cooler, more energetic, or less tired.

A light snack or drink, especially one provided in a public place or at a meeting.

(of beans) cooked, mashed, and then fried again, typically with seasonings.

A substance used for cooling, especially in a refrigerator or air conditioner.

to make or keep something, especially food or drink, cold in order to preserve it

(of food or other perishable items) made or kept cold in order to preserve it

The process of making or keeping something, especially food or drink, cold in order to preserve it.

A large piece of electrical kitchen equipment, shaped like a cupboard, used for keeping food and drinks cold so that they stay fresh.

To fill something, especially a vehicle or aircraft, with fuel again.

The action or process of filling a vehicle, aircraft, or machine with more fuel.

shelter or protection from danger, trouble, or something unpleasant

A person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.

shining brightly; radiant

An amount of money that is given back to you, especially because you are not happy with something you have bought or because you have paid too much.

(of money) that can be paid back

to clean and decorate a room, building, etc. in order to make it more attractive, more useful, or of a higher standard

(of a building or room) cleaned, decorated, and fitted with new equipment or furniture.

The present participle or gerund of 'refurbish'. To renovate and redecorate (something, especially a building).

The process of renovating and redecorating something, especially a building, to make it look new again.

to provide (a room or building) with new furniture or fittings.

an act of saying or showing that you will not do, give, or accept something

to say or show that you will not do, give, or accept something

Past tense and past participle of 'refuse'. To say or show that you are not willing to do, accept, or allow something.

a person, especially in the former soviet union, who was refused permission to emigrate, typically for political reasons.

the act of proving a statement or theory to be wrong or false.

To prove that a statement or idea is not true.

to get something back that you have lost, especially an ability, quality, or state

Of, resembling, or fit for a monarch, especially in being magnificent or dignified.

To entertain or amuse someone with talk or stories.

the special clothes, decorations, and other objects used or worn by someone in authority, especially on a formal occasion.

In a manner that is magnificent, splendid, or suitable for a monarch.

To think of or consider in a particular way

Concerning or about something or someone.

Without paying attention to the present situation; despite the prevailing circumstances.

Good wishes or expressions of esteem and affection

a sporting event consisting of a series of boat or yacht races.

a period of government by a regent

To grow again or make something grow again after it has been damaged or lost.

(present participle) To grow or form again; to undergo renewal or restoration.

The process of growing new tissue to replace lost or injured tissue.

Having the ability to regrow or be renewed, especially after being damaged.

A person who governs a country because the monarch is too young, absent, or ill.

a style of popular music with a strongly accented subsidiary beat, originating in jamaica.

The crime of killing a king.

A government, especially an authoritarian one

A set of rules about food and exercise that someone follows, especially in order to improve their health.

A permanent unit of an army, typically commanded by a colonel and divided into several smaller units.

Relating to or characteristic of a military regiment.

The act of organizing people or things in a strict and controlled way, often so that they are all the same.

strictly controlled and organized, with a lot of attention paid to rules, order, and discipline.