soften
verb (used with object)
had softened
-
past perfectof soften.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
But executives had softened their tone by mid-September and went further to acknowledge the leverage that its unionized workers hold.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
Chipotle executives said traffic trends had softened through the latter half of last month in the wake of the cyclospora scare, but the company still raised its full-year sales forecast.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026
More than 15 years removed from the singer’s death in 2009, Jackson’s once-radioactive name had softened with time.
From Salon ● Apr. 25, 2026
U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators had softened or deleted some of the treaty’s most crippling clauses.
From Slate ● Feb. 28, 2025
The rain had softened to a mist, and his wet shirt felt cool against his skin.
From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen
