plain

[ pleyn ]

/ pleɪn /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR plain ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, plain·er, plain·est.

clear or distinct to the eye or ear: a plain trail to the river; to stand in plain view.

clear to the mind; evident, manifest, or obvious: to make one's meaning plain.

conveying the meaning clearly and simply; easily understood: plain talk.

downright; sheer; utter; self-evident: plain folly; plain stupidity.

free from ambiguity or evasion; candid; outspoken: the plain truth of the matter.

without special pretensions, superiority, elegance, etc.; ordinary: plain people.

not beautiful; physically unattractive or undistinguished: a plain face.

without intricacies or difficulties.

ordinary, simple, or unostentatious: Although she was a duchess, her manners were attractively plain.

with little or no embellishment, decoration, or enhancing elaboration: a plain blue suit.

without a pattern, figure, or device: a plain fabric.

not rich, highly seasoned, or elaborately prepared, as food: a plain diet.

flat or level: plain country.

unobstructed, clear, or open, as ground, a space, etc.

Cards. being other than a face card or a trump.

adverb

clearly and simply: He's just plain stupid.

noun

an area of land not significantly higher than adjacent areas and with relatively minor differences in elevation, commonly less than 500 feet (150 meters), within the area.

The Plains. Great Plains.

Nearby words

Origin of plain

1250–1300; Middle English (adj., adv., and noun) < Old French (adj. and noun) < Latin plānus flat, level, plānum flat country

SYNONYMS FOR plain

1, 2. lucid, understandable, intelligible, unmistakable, apparent, perspicuous. 2, 3. unambiguous, unequivocal, patent, transparent; direct. 5. unreserved, straightforward, blunt, frank, ingenuous, open, sincere. 6. unpretentious. 10. unadorned.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR plain ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR plain

1. indistinct. 2. obscure. 13. hilly.

SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR plain ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsplain·ly, adverbplain·ness, noun

Can be confusedplain plan plane

Synonym study

10. See homely.

plain

[ pleyn ]

/ pleɪn /

verb (used without object) British Dialect.

to complain.

Origin of plain

1250–1300; Middle English plei(g)nen < Old French plaign-, stem of plaindre < Latin plangere to beat (the breast, etc.), lament; akin to Greek plḗssein to strike

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for plain

Yet, much like the fate that fell the first season, ratings just plain weren't good.
‘The Comeback’ Finale: Give Lisa Kudrow All of the Awards|Kevin Fallon|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Thanks to the Atlanta case, they can now see another in plain sight.
A Gift to the Jihadis: The Unseen Airport Security Threat|Clive Irving|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Because holy hell was that bland, unfunny, uncomfortable, and just plain confusing.
The Biggest Bombs of 2014: ‘Sex Tape,’ Mariah Carey’s Vocals, ‘How I Met Your Mother’ and More|Kevin Fallon|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is already well known that there are oilrigs disguised in plain sight all over the city.
The Fiery Underground Oil Pit Eating L.A.|Geoff Manaugh|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The results of that rash decision, the most dire of which has been the rise of ISIS, are now plain for us to see.
‘America in Retreat’: Why Neo-Isolationism Exploded Under Obama and What We Can Do About It|James Kirchick|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Crossing the river Lykus into the plain, Mithridates offered the Romans battle.
Plutarch's Lives, Volume II|Aubrey Stewart & George Long
It was a plain, comfortable place, wainscoted about, with shelves and lockers in the whimsical copy of a vessel's cabin.
McClure's Magazine, Vol 31, No 2, June 1908|Various
In the centre of this plain was another large koppie of which the river Ukufa, or Death, washed one side.
Smith and the Pharaohs, and Other Tales|Henry Rider Haggard
As usual the ride over the plain is very tedious and tiring to the limbs—a hilly country in moderation is much more comfortable.
Byeways in Palestine|James Finn
She thought it was because she was so plain and awkward—and in part it was.
Lucy Maud Montgomery Short Stories, 1909 to 1922|Lucy Maud Montgomery

British Dictionary definitions for plain

plain

/ (pleɪn) /

adjective

flat or smooth; level

not complicated; clearthe plain truth

not difficult; simple or easya plain task

honest or straightforward

lowly, esp in social rank or education

without adornment or showa plain coat

(of fabric) without pattern or of simple untwilled weave

not attractive

not mixed; simpleplain vodka

knitting of or done in plain

noun

a level or almost level tract of country, esp an extensive treeless region

a simple stitch in knitting made by putting the right needle into a loop on the left needle, passing the wool round the right needle, and pulling it through the loop, thus forming a new loop

(in billiards)

the unmarked white ball, as distinguished from the spot balls
the player using this ball

(in Ireland) short for plain porter, a light portertwo pints of plain, please

adverb

(intensifier)just plain tired

Word Origin for plain

C13: from Old French: simple, from Latin plānus level, distinct, clear

verb

a dialect or poetic word for complain

Word Origin for plain

C14 pleignen, from Old French plaindre to lament, from Latin plangere to beat

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for plain

plain

adj.

c.1300, "flat, smooth," from Old French plain "flat, smooth, even" (12c.), from Latin planus "flat, even, level" (see plane (n.1)). Sense of "evident" is from, c.1300; that of "free from obstruction" is early 14c.; meaning "simple, sincere, ordinary" is recorded from late 14c., especially of dress, "unembellished, without decoration."

In reference to the dress and speech of Quakers, it is recorded from 1824; of Amish and Mennonites, from 1894 (in the Dutch regions of Pennsylvania Plain with the capital is shorthand adjective for "Amish and Old Order Mennonite"). Of appearance, as a euphemism for "ill-favored, ugly" it dates from 1749. Of envelopes from 1913. As an adverb from early 14c. Plain English is from c.1500. Plain dealer "one who deals plainly or speaks candidly" is from 1570s, marked "Now rare" in OED 2nd edition. To be as plain as the nose on (one's) face is from 1690s.

plain

"level country," c.1300 (in reference to Salisbury Plain), from Old French plain "open countryside," from Latin planum "level ground, plain," noun use of neuter of planus (adj.) "flat, even, level" (see plane (n.1)). Latin planum was used for "level ground" but much more common was campus.

Science definitions for plain

plain

[ plān ]

An extensive, relatively level area of land. Plains are present on all continents except Antarctica and are most often located in the interior regions. Because they can occur at almost any altitude or latitude, plains can be humid and forested, semiarid and grass-covered, or arid.

A broad, level expanse, such as an area of the sea floor or a lunar mare.

Idioms and Phrases with plain

plain

In addition to the idioms beginning with plain

plain as day
plain sailing

also see:

in plain English

plain

adjective, plain·er, plain·est.

adverb

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of plain

Synonym study

plain

verb (used without object) British Dialect.

Origin of plain

Examples from the Web for plain

plain

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noun

adverb

Word Origin for plain

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Word Origin for plain

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