soften Meaning & Definition
What Does Soften Mean?
Soften is used as a verb meaning To make something soft or softer. It is also used to mean To undermine the morale of someone (often soften up).
Soften at a Glance
| Part of speech | verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˈsɒfən// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | yield, break and moderate |
| Antonyms | stand, sharpen and remain firm |
| Verb forms | softens, softening, softened |
Soften Definition (Verb)
- To make something soft or softer.
Soften the butter before beating in the sugar.
- To undermine the morale of someone (often soften up).
Before the invasion, we softened up the enemy with the artillery.
- To make less harsh.
Having second thoughts, I softened my criticism.
- To become soft or softer.
The butter softened as it warmed up.
- To become or make (a consonant) more lenis, to lenite.
- To palatalize.
Synonyms of Soften
Soften synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Soften
Soften in a Sentence
Soften the butter before beating in the sugar.
Before the invasion, we softened up the enemy with the artillery.
Having second thoughts, I softened my criticism.
The butter softened as it warmed up.
Word Forms & Grammar
soften (third-person singular simple present softens, present participle softening, simple past and past participle softened)
Words That Rhyme With Soften
Origin of Soften
From Middle English softenen, softnen, equivalent to soft + -en.
How to Pronounce Soften
The standard pronunciation of soften is //ˈsɒfən//, spoken in 1 syllable.
Questions People Ask About Soften
What part of speech is soften?
Soften is a verb.
What is another word for soften?
You can replace soften with words such as yield, break and moderate. See the full list of soften synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of soften?
The opposite of soften can be expressed with words like stand, sharpen, remain firm and harden.
What is the past tense of soften?
The past tense of soften is softened. The present participle is softening.