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verb · B2 · often · UK/US

soften

soften

Meaning of soften

make softer

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How important is this word
B2often

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Pronunciation
British English/tə ˈsɒfən/
American English/tu ˈsɔfən/
Russian transcription[smʲɪɡˈt͡ɕatʲ]
soften
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soften with Russian translation

soften usage examples

🇷🇺Russian🇬🇧English

Натрите замшу небольшим количеством масла — это поможет смягчить её .

Rub a little oil into the suede to soften it .

🇷🇺Russian🇬🇧English

Добавьте немного белой краски в красный цвет, чтобы смягчать оттенок, пока он не станет подходящим.

Mix a touch of white paint into the red to soften the shade until it looks right.

Learn by topic

soften belongs to the topic "Colors and Materials". Start with a short 7-word set so the word is easier to remember in context.

softenсмягчать
shirtрубашка
skirtюбка
pantsбрюки
trousersбрюки
jeansджинсы
shortsшорты

soften synonyms

Related word breakdowns

What's the difference between soften / smooth / tone down / mellow / temper / dull

🇬🇧English

focuses on removing bumps/unevenness; not identical to making soft

A1Very Often

She smoothed the plaster so the wall looked even.

T
🇬🇧English
tone down

reduce intensity or strength (colour, remark); often figurative

A2Often

They toned down the bright curtains to match the room.

M
🇬🇧English
mellow

pleasantly softened over time; calm, rich or smooth (sound, flavour, mood)

B1Rarely

The aging process mellowed the wine and softened its tannins.

T
🇬🇧English
temper

moderate or mitigate; also technical (temper steel)

B2Rarely

She tempered her criticism so it wouldn’t offend him. / The smith tempered the blade.

🇬🇧English

make less bright, sharp, or intense; often negative

A2Very Often

The grey primer dulled the bright red paint.

D
🇬🇧English
desaturate

technical: reduce colour saturation (images, paints); very specific to colour

B2Rarely

Desaturate the image slightly to achieve a softer palette.

🇬🇧English

lose brightness/intensity over time; gradual reduction

A2Often

The curtains have faded in the sun and look much softer now.

A
🇬🇧English
attenuate

formal/technical: reduce the strength, force, or intensity of something

B2Rarely

Filters attenuate the harsh light, making it easier on the eyes.

🇬🇧English

make less extreme; reduce intensity or extremeness

B1Often

They moderated the colour choices to suit a wider audience.

What's the difference

Related words and lists for soften

How to pronounce soften and what this word means

soften means soften. This page includes translation, pronunciation, transcription, audio, usage examples and related words.

how to pronounce soften

/tə ˈsɒfən/

soften translation

soften

soften examples

Rub a little oil into the suede to soften it .

soften transcription

/tə ˈsɒfən/, /tu ˈsɔfən/

Questions about this word

soften meaning: what does it mean?

make softer

soften pronunciation: how do you pronounce it?

soften is pronounced as /tə ˈsɒfən/. Audio is available on this page when the word has a recording.

soften definition and sentence examples: how is it used in a sentence?

Rub a little oil into the suede to soften it . Translation: Натрите замшу небольшим количеством масла — это поможет смягчить её .

Is soften part of Colors and Materials vocabulary?

Yes, soften can be learned in the Colors and Materials topic. This semantic link helps build related word lists and topic-based practice.

Is soften part of Clothing and Fashion vocabulary?

Yes, soften can be learned in the Clothing and Fashion topic. This semantic link helps build related word lists and topic-based practice.

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