Definition of simple adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

simple

adjective

OPAL W OPAL S

/ˈsɪmpl/

(comparative simpler, superlative simplest)

You can also use more simple and most simple.Idioms

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easy

not complicated; easy to understand or do synonym easy

a simple solution/explanation/question/task/example
simple for somebody/something You will soon see that what once seemed impossible is now simple for you.
something is simple to do This machine is very simple to use.
something is simple for somebody to do The game is supposed to be simple for anyone to play.
it is simple to do something It's too simple to blame the lack of manufacturing jobs on the last government.
Give the necessary information but keep it simple.
it is simple for somebody to do something It would be much simpler for me to go there myself and sort things out.
We lost because we played badly. It's as simple as that.
If you enjoy your workout, you'll want to do it. It's that simple.
It all sounds simple enough.
Let me make it simple —this is going to take years to do.
These are bad guys, plain and simple.
The answer is really quite simple.
There must be a simpler way of doing this.
In simple terms, the more saturated fat something contains, the less healthy it is.
a relatively simple process

Extra Examples

I found the work fairly simple.
Is all this technology making our lives simpler?
It is a brilliantly simple idea.
The logic of the plan was devastatingly simple.
Their approach is refreshingly simple and direct.
This seemingly simple task ended up taking hours.
a deceptively simple technique
Shopping on the internet can be safe if you follow a few simple rules.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs

appear
be
look
…

adverb

extremely
fairly
very
…

See full entry

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basic/plain

basic or plain without anything extra or unnecessary

simple but elegant clothes
We had a simple meal of soup and bread.
The accommodation is simple but spacious.
The simple things in life are often the best.
He was pleased to live the simple life and enjoy nature around him.
simple pleasures, like reading and walking
The engine design is elegantly simple.
contemporary furniture that is simple in design

opposite fancy

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs

appear
be
look
…

adverb

extremely
fairly
very
…

See full entry

for emphasis

used before a noun to emphasize that it is exactly that and nothing else

We cannot ignore the simple fact that the country cannot sustain the current level of economic growth.
The simple truth is that we just can't afford it.
It's a simple matter of giving them enough to eat.
It was a matter of simple survival.
It's nothing to worry about—just a simple headache.
I had to do it for the simple reason that (= because) I couldn't trust anyone else.
A simple majority is all that is required.
The simple act of eating raises your metabolism.

Synonyms plainplainsimple ▪ stark ▪ bare ▪ unequivocal These words all describe statements, often about something unpleasant, that are very clear, not trying to hide anything, and not using more words than necessary.plain used for talking about a fact that other people may not like to hear; honest and direct in a way that other people may not like:

The plain fact is that nobody really knows.

simple [only before noun] used for talking about a fact that other people may not like to hear; very obvious and not complicated by anything else:

The simple truth is that we just can’t afford it.

plain or simple?When it is being used to emphasize facts that other people may not like to hear, plain is usually used in the expression the plain fact/truth is that… Simple can be used in this way too, but it can also be used in a wider variety of structures and collocations (such as reason and matter): The problem was due to the simple fact that… • The problem was due to the plain fact that… • for the plain reason that… • It’s a plain matter of… Expressions with simple often suggest impatience with other people’s behaviour.stark (rather formal) used for describing an unpleasant fact or difference that is very obvious:

The stark truth is that there is not enough money left.

The simple/plain truth may be something that some people do not want to hear, but it may be good for them to hear it anyway. The stark truth is something particularly unpleasant and has no good side to it at all.bare [only before noun] the most basic or simple, with nothing extra:

She gave me only the bare facts of the case.

unequivocal (formal) expressing your opinion or intention very clearly and firmly:

The reply was an unequivocal ‘no’.

Patterns

the plain/simple/stark/bare/unequivocal truth
a(n) plain/simple/stark/bare/unequivocal fact/statement
a(n) plain/simple/unequivocal answer

Extra Examples

In some cases his argument is based on simple ignorance.
Nobody wanted to believe the simple truth.
These proposals are no more than simple common sense.

with few parts

[usually before noun] consisting of only a few parts; not complicated in structure

simple forms of life, for example amoebas
a simple machine
(grammar) a simple sentence (= one with only one verb)
a simple model of a business market

ordinary

[only before noun] (of a person) ordinary; not special

I'm a simple country girl.
The poem describes simple young soldiers in the Civil War.

slow to learn

[not usually before noun] (old-fashioned, offensive) (of a person) slow to learn; having a learning disability

grammar

used to describe the present or past tense of a verb that is formed without using an auxiliary verb, as in She loves him (= the simple present tense) or He arrived late (= the simple past tense)

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Idioms

Nearby words

sunflower

noun

From the Topic

Plants and trees

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