soften
verb/ˈsɒfn/
/ˈsɔːfn/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they soften | /ˈsɒfn/ /ˈsɔːfn/ |
| he / she / it softens | /ˈsɒfnz/ /ˈsɔːfnz/ |
| past simple softened | /ˈsɒfnd/ /ˈsɔːfnd/ |
| past participle softened | /ˈsɒfnd/ /ˈsɔːfnd/ |
| -ing form softening | /ˈsɒfnɪŋ/ /ˈsɔːfnɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to become, or to make something softer
- Fry the onions until they soften.
- soften something a lotion to soften the skin
- Linseed oil will soften stiff leather.
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Find out which words work together and produce more natural sounding English with the Oxford Collocations Dictionary app.
- [intransitive, transitive] soften (something) to become or to make something less bright, rough or strong
- Trees soften the outline of the house.
- [intransitive, transitive] to become or to make somebody/something more kind or friendly and less severe or critical
- She felt herself softening towards him.
- His face softened as he looked at his son.
- soften somebody/something She softened her tone a little.
Extra Examples- Her face softened into a smile.
- I've softened somewhat in my advancing age.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- considerably
- a lot
- a bit
- …
- towards/toward
- [transitive] soften something to reduce the force or the unpleasant effects of something synonym cushion
- Airbags are designed to soften the impact of a car crash.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- slightly
- somewhat
- try to
- help (to)
- soften the blow (of something)
- soften into a smile
Idioms
See soften in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee soften in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishsoften/cushion the blow
- to make something that is unpleasant seem less unpleasant and easier to accept
- I should try to soften the blow of this news.
- The chancellor may try to soften the blow somewhat with a cut in interest rates.
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soften