soothe
Americanverb (used with object)
-
soothes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
soothed,
past participle, past
-
soothing
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
soothes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
soothed,
past participle, past
-
soothing
present participle
verb
-
(tr) to make calm or tranquil
-
(tr) to relieve or assuage (pain, longing, etc)
-
(intr) to bring tranquillity or relief
Synonym Usage
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
soothesimple
-
soothessimple
-
have soothedperfect
-
has soothedperfect
-
am soothingprogressive
-
are soothingprogressive
-
is soothingprogressive
-
have been soothingperfect progressive
-
has been soothingperfect progressive
Past
-
soothedsimple
-
had soothedperfect
-
was soothingprogressive
-
were soothingprogressive
-
had been soothingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of soothe
First recorded before 950; Middle English sothen “to bear witness, confirm, verify,” Old English sōthian “to prove true”; the Modern English sense shift “to verify” becomes “to support (a person's statement),” then “to encourage,” and finally “to calm”; see origin at sooth
Compare meaning
How does soothe compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
To soothe is to relieve or to bring comfort. If the pounding in your head is driving you mad, it sounds like you might need an aspirin or two to soothe your headache. Soothing is meant to make you feel better, both physically and emotionally. Spend too many hours on the beach without sunblock? You'll need some aloe to soothe that sunburn. Had a bad breakup with a boyfriend? Soothing that broken heart might take something stronger — chocolates, a gabfest with good friends, and sappy movies are usually just what the doctor ordered.
Vocabulary lists containing soothe
Comfy Cozy Lingo
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!
Motherlode: A Mother's Day Lexicon
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!
"The People Could Fly," Vocabulary from the folk tale
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:
That feel especially valid at a time when we have plenty of shoppable salves to soothe midlife crisis ego death in whatever forms that it takes.
From Salon ● Aug. 4, 2026
The Financial Times looks at the Burnham government's "bid to soothe 'public control' anxiety" through "stressing the new administration's desire to attract private capital into key sectors of the economy".
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
She also grows oregano and lemongrass, with which she brews into a tea to soothe stomach issues.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
"Anthropomorphic AI can soothe loneliness," said Chen Liang of the Southwest University of Political Science and Law in a commentary published by the CAC after a draft version of China's rules was published in April.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
But the sensation they were feeling—that chafing, persistent yearning for something to soothe their weary soul—was often confused with dehydration.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
For 15 years, Roberto Lange, better known artistically as Helado Negro, has been making, beautiful humanistic electronic music that soothes the soul.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
"The ceasefire definitely soothes our nerves, hoping it stays this way. The crew is finally taking a breather," an off-duty captain of a ship, whose crew is stranded off Qatar, told AFP.
From Barron's ● Apr. 8, 2026
Delta soothes investor fears over the effect of rising oil prices by raising revenue guidance, and the stock surges.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 17, 2026
Even when that order is part of America itself, individual heroism soothes the audience with the promise that the world’s wrongs can be righted with enough derring-do.
From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2024
“I wanna go home,” Pita cried, reaching for Juanita, who took her in her arms and kissed her forehead like Mamá soothes us.
From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall
But there was a roughly 38% chance of a hike — up from closer to 13% a week ago, when cooler inflation data for June soothed worries over rate increases.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 26, 2026
Maybe having some allies in that moment soothed him.
From Salon ● Jul. 14, 2026
That soothed fears the Federal Reserve could hike interest rates soon to bring down inflation, and fuelled a healthy bounce across Asia, led by Seoul.
From Barron's ● Jul. 6, 2026
A freshly agreed U.S.-Iran peace deal has soothed some concerns about an energy shock but analysts warn that it will take time for oil supplies to normalize and for the economic ripples to calm.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
“No, jaan, you did nothing wrong,” soothed Habib.
From "Shooting Kabul" by N. H. Senzai
It’s an album that aligns with each musician’s trademarks — characterized by Lange’s soothing electronica and Reyna’s eclectic elasticity — but an entirely unique work within their respective discographies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
His pivot was the latest in a pattern by the president, who has swung between dire threats against Tehran and soothing claims that a peace deal is within reach.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026
It was a soothing and relaxed space that suggested fun on the horizon.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
When life gets you down, Danny Palumbo opines, nothing is more soothing than eating a meal prepared with love.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
Her makazins protected Deydey’s used-up ones, nuzzled them together, and seemed to be watching over and soothing away the many dangers of his footsteps.
From "The Birchbark House" by Louise Erdrich
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.
