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adj Uncommon

mellow

MEH-loh
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Mellow (adj) means Ripe, soft, and sweet-tasting, without harshness or sharpness — used for fruit, wine, cheese, or other matured food and drink. Example: “The cheese had aged into a mellow, nutty flavour.”

adj
1
Ripe, soft, and sweet-tasting, without harshness or sharpness — used for fruit, wine, cheese, or other matured food and drink.
"The cheese had aged into a mellow, nutty flavour."
"A mellow red wine goes well with this dish."
2
Calm, relaxed, and easygoing, especially through age or experience; also used loosely for someone pleasantly drunk or high.
"Her grandfather grew mellow with age, rarely losing his temper anymore."
"After a couple of drinks he was feeling nicely mellow."
verb
1
To become calmer, softer, or less harsh over time — or to cause something or someone to become that way.
"The old rivalry between the two families has mellowed over the years."
"A splash of cream mellows out the bitterness of the coffee."
noun
1
A relaxed, comfortable mood or state of mind.
"Don't ruin my mellow with bad news."

How to use mellow

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSoft, ripe, and pleasant rather than harsh — used for flavours, sounds, and for people who are calm and relaxed.

Common mistake

"Mellow out" is an informal phrasal verb meaning to relax or calm down — don't use it in formal writing.

Common pairings
a mellow flavour grow mellow mellow out a mellow mood
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Word forms

Plural
mellows
Third person singular
mellows
Past tense
mellowed
Comparative
mellower, more mellow
Superlative
mellowest, most mellow
Test yourself on “mellow” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The cheese had aged into a _____, nutty flavour.

Etymology

From Middle English melowe ("ripe, soft, juicy"), likely tracing back to Old English words for ground grain or for something soft and tender — the exact root is debated by etymologists.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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melt mellow out mellowed high

Antonyms

bitter sour astringent acid unripe harsh sober

Related words

high low deep sweet beer drunk severe height

Rhymes for mellow

yellow fellow bellow Longfellow Goodfellow
See all rhymes for mellow →

Frequently asked questions

What does “mellow” mean?
The word “mellow” means ripe, soft, and sweet-tasting, without harshness or sharpness — used for fruit, wine, cheese, or other matured food and drink. In plain terms, soft, ripe, and pleasant rather than harsh — used for flavours, sounds, and for people who are calm and relaxed.
How do you pronounce “mellow”?
“Mellow” is pronounced MEH-loh (/ˈmɛloʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “mellow” in a sentence?
Here is “mellow” used in a sentence: “The cheese had aged into a mellow, nutty flavour.”
What part of speech is “mellow”?
Depending on how it is used, “mellow” can be an adjective, a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “mellow” come from?
The word “mellow” comes from Old English. From Middle English melowe ("ripe, soft, juicy"), likely tracing back to Old English words for ground grain or for something soft and tender — the exact root is debated by etymologists.
Is “mellow” a common word?
“Mellow” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “mellow” have?
“Mellow” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: ripe, soft, and sweet-tasting, without harshness or sharpness — used for fruit, wine, cheese, or other matured food and drink.

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