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verb · B2 · often · UK/US

soften

soften

Meaning of soften

make softer

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B2often

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Pronunciation
British English/tə ˈsɒfən/
American English/tu ˈsɔfən/
Russian transcription[smʲɪɡˈt͡ɕatʲ]
soften
soften - смягчать
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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
soften

primary, general: make less hard, harsh, or intense

A1Very Often

She softened the leather with oil so it wouldn't crack.

Она смягчила кожу маслом, чтобы она не трескалась.

🇬🇧English

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

A1Very Often

She smoothed the plaster so the wall looked even.

Она разгладила штукатурку, чтобы стена выглядела ровно.

T
🇬🇧English
tone down

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

A2Often

They toned down the bright curtains to match the room.

Они приглушили яркость штор, чтобы они подошли к комнате.

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.

Время смягчило вино, и его танины стали мягче.

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.

Она смягчила свою критику, чтобы не обидеть его. / Кузнец закалил клинок.

🇬🇧English

make less bright, sharp, or intense; often negative

A2Very Often

The grey primer dulled the bright red paint.

Серый грунт притупил яркость красной краски.

D
🇬🇧English
desaturate

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

B2Rarely

Desaturate the image slightly to achieve a softer palette.

Немного десатурируйте изображение, чтобы получить более мягкую палитру.

🇬🇧English

lose brightness/intensity over time; gradual reduction

A2Often

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

Шторы выцвели на солнце и теперь выглядят гораздо мягче.

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.

Фильтры ослабляют резкий свет, делая его более мягким для глаз.

🇬🇧English

make less extreme; reduce intensity or extremeness

B1Often

They moderated the colour choices to suit a wider audience.

Они смягчили выбор цветов, чтобы он подошёл широкой аудитории.

What's the difference

Related words and lists for soften

How to pronounce soften and what this word means

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

how to pronounce soften

/tə ˈsɒfən/

soften translation

смягчать

soften examples

Rub a little oil into the suede to soften it .

soften transcription

/tə ˈsɒfən/, /tu ˈsɔfən/

How this dictionary entry is reviewed

ZapomniEnglish prepares dictionary data automatically, then the editorial workflow checks high-frequency words, top lists, and pages that already receive search impressions first.

Translation and meaningPronunciation and transcriptionExamples, synonyms, and topics

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 (смягчать) 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 (смягчать) 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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