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单词 soften
释义

Trends of
soften

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soften

(sɒfən, US sɔːf-)
Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense softens, present participle softening, past tense, past participle softened
1. verb
If you soften something or if it softens, it becomes less hard, stiff, or firm.
Soften the butter mixture in a small saucepan. [VERB noun]
Fry for about 4 minutes, until the onion has softened. [VERB]
Synonyms: melt, tenderize More Synonyms of soften
2. verb
If one thing softens the damaging effect of another thing, it makes the effect less severe.
There were also pledges to soften the impact of the subsidy cuts on the poorer regions. [VERB noun]
He could not think how to soften the blow of what he had to tell her. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: lessen, moderate, diminish, temper More Synonyms of soften
3. verb
If you soften your position, if your position softens, or if you soften, you become more sympathetic and less hostile or critical towards someone or something.
The letter shows no sign that the Americans have softened their position. [VERB noun]
His party's policy has softened a lot in recent years. [VERB]
Livy felt herself soften towards Caroline. [VERB]
4. verb
If your voice or expression softens or if you soften it, it becomes much more gentle and friendly.
All at once, Mick's serious expression softened into a grin. [VERB]
She did not smile or soften her voice. [VERB noun]
5. verb
If you soften something such as light, a colour, or a sound, you make it less bright or harsh.
We wanted to soften the light without destroying the overall effect of space. [VERB noun]
Stark concrete walls have been softened by a show of fresh flowers. [VERB noun]
6. verb
Something that softens your skin makes it very smooth and pleasant to touch.
...products designed to moisturize and soften the skin. [VERB noun]
Phrasal verbs:
See soften up

soften in British English

(ˈsɒfən)
verb
1. 
to make or become soft or softer
2. 
to make or become gentler
3. (intransitive) business
a. 
(of demand, a market, etc) to weaken
b. 
(of a price) to fall

soften in American English

(ˈsɔfən; ˈsɑfən)
verb transitive, verb intransitive
1. 
to make or become soft or softer
2. 
to weaken the resistance or opposition of
Word origin
ME softnen: see soft & -en

More idioms containing
soften

soften the blow

Examples of 'soften' in a sentence
soften

The sliding crude price has significantly softened the blow of any duty rise.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Gently soften in the butter in a sauté pan.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Labour has softened its position on holding terror suspects.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Stir the celery into the softening onion.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This also makes it easier to soften and blend colours.
Bulgin, Sally Acrylics Masterclass (1994)
This serum is brimming with feelgood essential oils that keep skin silky and soften brittle hair.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This pleasing effect softens the hard steel lines and shields the precipitous drop to the road below.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Demand for mortgages also softened in the face of increased borrowing costs and lower disposable income.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The demands were softened only after intervention from other ministers and prolonged negotiation.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Neither fighter has become softened by the luxury that now surrounds them.
The Sun (2009)
Her voice softened as she spoke of her son.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
But he softens the blows with anecdotes and personal insights.
Christianity Today (2000)
Melt most of the remaining butter in a large frying pan and gently soften the onions.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The weather and lighting can soften colours.
Freeman, Michael Photographers Handbook (1993)
The effect was to soften the opposition.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Heat the oil in spacious sauté pan and gently soften the onion while you halve the tomatoes.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Any deviation from that general approach raises concerns that demand is softening in the face of slower economic growth.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The government is expected to soften the blow to employers by sparing small firms with up to five employees.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Beat the butter to soften with a spatula, then stir in the bacon.
The Sun (2014)
You can soften your position now, though.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
No formal curtain: the mayhem just softens to one voice as the house lights go down.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
If you cannot balance in this position, soften your knees and lower your hips a bit.
The Sun (2011)
Mixing lemon juice with white wine vinegar also softens the sharpness of the lemon but gives the dressing a fresher, livelier taste.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)

In other languages
soften

British English: soften VERB
If you soften something or if it softens, it becomes less hard, stiff, or firm.
Soften the butter mixture in a small saucepan.
  • American English: soften
  • Brazilian Portuguese: amaciar
  • Chinese: 使变软
  • European Spanish: ablandar
  • French: ramollir
  • German: weich machen
  • Italian: ammorbidire
  • Japanese: 柔らかくする/柔らかくなる
  • Korean: 부드럽게 하다
  • European Portuguese: amaciar
  • Latin American Spanish: ablandar

Chinese translation of 'soften'

soften

(ˈsɔfn)

vt

  1. [food] 使变(變)软(軟) (shǐ biànruǎn)
  2. [impact, blow] 使缓(緩)和 (shǐ huǎnhé)
  3. [position, attitude] 使软(軟)化 (shǐ ruǎnhuà)
  4. [voice, expression] 使柔和 (shǐ róuhé)

vi

  1. [food, material] (also soften up) 变(變)软(軟) (biàn ruǎn)
  2. [position, attitude] 变(變)缓(緩)和 (biàn huǎnhé)
  3. [voice, expression] 变(變)温(溫)和 (biǎn wēnhé)
1 (verb) 
Definition
to make or become soft or softer
Soften the butter mixture in a small saucepan.
Synonyms
melt
Her smile is enough to melt anyone's heart.
tenderize
2 (verb) 
Definition
to make or become more sympathetic and less critical
He could not think how to soften the blow of what he had to tell her.
Synonyms
lessen
Keep immunisations up to date to lessen the risk of serious illness.
moderate
They are hoping that she will be persuaded to moderate her views.
diminish
Federalism is intended to diminish the power of the central state.
temper
He had to learn to temper his enthusiasm.
lower
The new measures will lower the risk.
relax
Rules governing student conduct have been relaxed in recent years.
ease
I made her a hot water bottle to ease the pain.
calm
She took a deep breath to calm her nerves.
modify
He had to modify his language considerably.
cushion
He spoke gently, trying to cushion the blow of rejection.
soothe
Lemon tisanes with honey can soothe sore throats.
subdue
He forced himself to subdue and overcome his fears.
alleviate
A great deal can be done to alleviate back pain.
lighten
He felt the need to lighten the atmosphere.
quell
He is trying to quell fears of a looming crisis.
muffle
allay
He did what he could to allay the children's fears.
mitigate
ways of mitigating the effects of an explosion
abate
a government programme to abate greenhouse gas emissions
tone down
assuage
She was trying to assuage her guilt.

phrasal verb

See soften someone up

Additional synonyms

in the sense of abate
Definition
to make or become less strong
a government programme to abate greenhouse gas emissions
Synonyms
reduce,
slow,
relax,
ease,
relieve,
moderate,
weaken,
dull,
diminish,
decrease,
lessen,
alleviate,
quell,
mitigate,
attenuate,
slake
in the sense of allay
Definition
to reduce (fear, doubt, or anger)
He did what he could to allay the children's fears.
Synonyms
reduce,
quiet,
relax,
ease,
calm,
smooth,
relieve,
check,
moderate,
dull,
diminish,
compose,
soften,
blunt,
soothe,
subdue,
lessen,
alleviate,
appease,
quell,
mitigate,
assuage,
pacify,
mollify
in the sense of alleviate
Definition
to lessen (pain or suffering)
A great deal can be done to alleviate back pain.
Synonyms
ease,
reduce,
relieve,
moderate,
smooth,
dull,
diminish,
soften,
check,
blunt,
soothe,
subdue,
lessen,
lighten,
quell,
allay,
mitigate,
abate,
slacken,
assuage,
quench,
mollify,
slake,
palliate

Synonyms of 'soften'

soften

Explore 'soften' in the dictionary

Additional synonyms

in the sense of assuage
Definition
to relieve (grief, pain, or thirst)
She was trying to assuage her guilt.
Synonyms
relieve,
ease,
calm,
moderate,
temper,
soothe,
lessen,
alleviate,
lighten,
allay,
mitigate,
quench,
palliate
in the sense of calm
Definition
to make or become calm
She took a deep breath to calm her nerves.
Synonyms
soothe,
settle,
quiet,
relax,
appease,
still,
allay,
assuage,
quieten
in the sense of cushion
Definition
to lessen the effects of
He spoke gently, trying to cushion the blow of rejection.
Synonyms
soften,
dampen,
muffle,
mitigate,
deaden,
suppress,
stifle
in the sense of diminish
Definition
to make or become smaller, fewer, or less
Federalism is intended to diminish the power of the central state.
Synonyms
reduce,
cut,
decrease,
lessen,
contract,
lower,
weaken,
curtail,
abate,
retrench,
disempower
in the sense of ease
Definition
to make or become less difficult or severe
I made her a hot water bottle to ease the pain.
Synonyms
relieve,
calm,
moderate,
soothe,
lessen,
alleviate,
appease,
lighten,
lower,
allay,
relax,
still,
mitigate,
assuage,
pacify,
mollify,
tranquillize,
palliate
in the sense of lighten
Definition
to make or become more cheerful or lively
He felt the need to lighten the atmosphere.
Synonyms
ease,
relieve,
alleviate,
allay,
reduce,
facilitate,
lessen,
mitigate,
assuage
in the sense of lower
Definition
to lessen or become less
The new measures will lower the risk.
Synonyms
lessen,
cut,
reduce,
moderate,
diminish,
slash,
decrease,
prune,
minimize,
curtail,
abate
in the sense of mitigate
Definition
to make less severe or harsh
ways of mitigating the effects of an explosion
Synonyms
ease,
moderate,
soften,
check,
quiet,
calm,
weaken,
dull,
diminish,
temper,
blunt,
soothe,
subdue,
lessen,
appease,
lighten,
remit,
allay,
placate,
abate,
tone down,
assuage,
pacify,
mollify,
take the edge off,
extenuate,
tranquillize,
palliate,
reduce the force of
in the sense of moderate
Definition
to make or become less extreme or violent
They are hoping that she will be persuaded to moderate her views.
Synonyms
soften,
control,
calm,
temper,
regulate,
quiet,
diminish,
decrease,
curb,
restrain,
tame,
subdue,
play down,
lessen,
repress,
mitigate,
tone down,
pacify,
modulate,
soft-pedal (informal)
in the sense of modify
Definition
to make less extreme or uncompromising
He had to modify his language considerably.
Synonyms
tone down,
limit,
reduce,
lower,
qualify,
relax,
ease,
restrict,
moderate,
temper,
soften,
restrain,
lessen,
abate

Additional synonyms

in the sense of quell
Definition
to overcome or allay
He is trying to quell fears of a looming crisis.
Synonyms
calm,
quiet,
silence,
moderate,
dull,
soothe,
alleviate,
appease,
allay,
mitigate,
assuage,
pacify,
mollify,
deaden
in the sense of relax
Definition
to make (rules or discipline) less strict
Rules governing student conduct have been relaxed in recent years.
Synonyms
moderate,
ease,
relieve,
weaken,
diminish,
mitigate,
slacken
in the sense of soothe
Definition
(of an ointment or cream) to relieve (pain)
Lemon tisanes with honey can soothe sore throats.
Synonyms
relieve,
ease,
alleviate,
dull,
diminish,
soften,
assuage,
deaden,
take the edge off,
allay
in the sense of subdue
Definition
to make (feelings, colour, or lighting) less intense
He forced himself to subdue and overcome his fears.
Synonyms
moderate,
control,
check,
suppress,
soften,
repress,
mellow,
tone down,
quieten down
in the sense of temper
Definition
to modify so as to make less extreme or more acceptable
He had to learn to temper his enthusiasm.
Synonyms
moderate,
restrain,
tone down,
calm,
soften,
soothe,
lessen,
allay,
mitigate,
abate,
assuage,
mollify,
soft-pedal (informal),
palliate,
admix
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更新时间：2024/9/21 17:56:29