simplify
Americanverb (used with object)
-
simplifies,
present (3rd person singular)
-
simplified,
past participle, past
-
simplifying
present participle
verb
-
to make less complicated, clearer, or easier
-
maths to reduce (an equation, fraction, etc) to a simpler form by cancellation of common factors, regrouping of terms in the same variable, etc
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
nonsimplificationnoun
-
simplificationnoun
-
simplificatornoun
-
simplifiernoun
-
supersimplifyverb (used with object)
-
simplificativeadjective
-
unsimplifiedadjective
-
unsimplifyingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
simplifysimple
-
simplifiessimple
-
have simplifiedperfect
-
has simplifiedperfect
-
am simplifyingprogressive
-
are simplifyingprogressive
-
is simplifyingprogressive
-
have been simplifyingperfect progressive
-
has been simplifyingperfect progressive
Past
-
simplifiedsimple
-
had simplifiedperfect
-
was simplifyingprogressive
-
were simplifyingprogressive
-
had been simplifyingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of simplify
First recorded in 1645–55; from French simplifier, from Medieval Latin simplificāre “to make simple,” equivalent to Latin simpli-, combining form of simplus simple + -ficāre -fy
Explanation
To simplify something is to make it less complex and easier to understand. When you simplify, you make things clearer. Since simple things have less parts or complexity, when you simplify, you're eliminating the clutter and reducing something to its essence. For example, if a speech is long and confusing, the person giving it might need to simplify their ideas: make them clearer. Teachers are good at simplifying; they take complex ideas and make them easier for students to understand. If you don't understand what someone is telling you, ask them to simplify it.
Vocabulary lists containing simplify
Academic Vocabulary: Core Tier 2 Words, List 8
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Algebra
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Algebra
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
But Heathrow sees this deadline as increasingly difficult to deliver without further steps to simplify the planning process.
From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026
Schoeller said a traditional gas turbine core has more than 2,000 parts, while Parallax’s design would use 3-D printing to simplify manufacturing down to a handful of parts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
He renamed the company Martin Defense Group after himself, joking that it would simplify his future takeover of Lockheed Martin.
From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026
The lower temperature, along with the absence of costly noble-metal catalysts, external hydrogen, organic solvents, and a chemical initiator, could simplify the process.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 21, 2026
If, in order to simplify our problem, we concentrate on the visual arts, we might say that a work of art must be a tangible thing shaped by human hands.
From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson
Nike will reduce its workforce by roughly 1,400 workers, or about 2%, mostly in its tech department, as it simplifies global operations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026
“We believe there’s a clear model for the next-generation utility, where AI simplifies complexity and delivers measurable impact—and it’s something utilities can put to work today.”
From Barron's ● Apr. 13, 2026
The new method removes the need for overnight culturing and simplifies the testing process.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 31, 2026
NordVPN offers a SmartPlay feature, which simplifies streaming on smart TVs, gaming consoles and devices like the Fire TV Stick.
From Salon ● Mar. 27, 2026
“Well that simplifies things,” I heard my father say.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
The map below is a simplified version of the one created by the Office of Violence Prevention.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
Here’s a simplified example: John’s top tax rate is 22% and could be 22% when he withdraws from retirement accounts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
In simplified terms, RCS challenges a quantum computer to generate patterns that become so complicated that a classical computer cannot efficiently reproduce them.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 30, 2026
Having a simplified menu of tools and functionality helped encourage Townsend Harris to switch to NumWorks.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026
Compared to the animals of the cave paintings, those at Çatal Hüyük are simplified and immobile.
From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson
Or maybe, for McDaniel, it’s as simple as simplifying what he’s trying to do with this Chargers offense.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026
"By simplifying the design, we reached a size at which these robots can operate directly in the microbial world - almost like microscopic cleaning devices."
From Science Daily ● Aug. 18, 2026
By simplifying the attacking game into two-v-two or three-v-three situations, Liverpool are hoping to have a repeatable and dynamic solution, resulting in crosses from dangerous positions close to goal.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
“Shortening the timetable for issuers will help reduce execution risk during the IPO period, while simplifying information sharing requirements will ease the administrative burden for companies and their advisers.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
One therefore has to make simplifying assumptions and approximations—and even then, the problem of extracting predictions remains a formidable one.
From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
