verb
Uncommon
soften
SO-fuhn
Soften (verb) means to make something soft or softer, or to become soft. Example: “Let the butter soften at room temperature before mixing.”
verb
1
To make something soft or softer, or to become soft.
"Let the butter soften at room temperature before mixing."
"Her expression softened when she saw the puppy."
2
To make something less harsh, severe, or intense.
"He tried to soften the blow by explaining his reasons first."
How to use soften
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo make (or become) less hard, harsh, or severe.
Common pairings
soften the blow
soften up
soften the tone
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- softens
- Past tense
- softened
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Let the butter _____ at room temperature before mixing.
Etymology
From Middle English softenen, built from soft + the verb-forming suffix -en.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for soften
See all rhymes for soften →Frequently asked questions
What does “soften” mean?
The word “soften” means to make something soft or softer, or to become soft. In plain terms, to make (or become) less hard, harsh, or severe.
How do you pronounce “soften”?
“Soften” is pronounced SO-fuhn (/ˈsɑf(t)ən/ in IPA).
How do you use “soften” in a sentence?
Here is “soften” used in a sentence: “Let the butter soften at room temperature before mixing.”
What is another word for “soften”?
Words with a similar meaning to “soften” include emolliate, mollify and tenderize.
What is the opposite of “soften”?
The opposite of “soften” — its antonyms — is harden.
What part of speech is “soften”?
“Soften” is a verb.
Where does the word “soften” come from?
The word “soften” comes from Middle English. From Middle English softenen, built from soft + the verb-forming suffix -en.
Is “soften” a common word?
“Soften” is an uncommon word in modern English.
