plain
1clear 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.
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.
clearly and simply: He's just plain stupid.
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.
Idioms about plain
in plain sight. See entry at in plain sight.
Origin of plain
1synonym study For plain
Other words for plain
| 1, 2 | lucid, understandable, intelligible, unmistakable, apparent, perspicuous |
| 2, 3 | unambiguous, unequivocal, patent, transparent |
| 5 | unreserved, straightforward, direct, blunt, frank, ingenuous, open, sincere |
| 6 | unpretentious |
| 10 | unadorned |
Opposites for plain
Other words from plain
- plain·ly, adverb
- plain·ness, noun
Words that may be confused with plain
Other definitions for plain (2 of 2)
to complain.
Origin of plain
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use plain in a sentence
Perhaps because they are nocturnal and well camouflaged, colugos live hidden in plain sight.
On a cool night in Malaysia, scientists track mysterious colugos across the treetops | Yao-Hua Law | November 20, 2020 | Science NewsWhat’s plain is no matter where you are in the US, the risk isn’t zero.
Yet another way up is hidden in plain sight –– it’s called Tranquility Cracks for a reason.
You can learn more about plain language by clicking on the blue link.
Rebecca Monteleone translated this story into plain language.
Editor’s Note: Why We Wrote about the Way People With Developmental Disabilities Get Treated | by T. Christian Miller, ProPublica, and Jill Jorden Spitz, Arizona Daily Star | November 5, 2020 | ProPublica
This didn't seem like the old, subservient Jim she was familiar with and she disliked his plainness of speech.
Dorothy at Skyrie | Evelyn RaymondThe extreme plainness of her dress lent an air of austerity to her face, and her features were proud and grave.
An Episode Under the Terror | Honore de BalzacIt was the same naked truth that in his novels he himself presented with the utmost plainness and boldness to the British public.
The Creators | May SinclairIt was perhaps to conceal this plainness that he wore it very short.
The Tragic Muse | Henry JamesIt is his first duty to deliver his message with a plainness that defies misunderstanding.
Expositor's Bible: The Second Epistle to the Corinthians | James Denney
British Dictionary definitions for plain (1 of 2)
/ (pleɪn) /
flat or smooth; level
not complicated; clear: the plain truth
not difficult; simple or easy: a plain task
honest or straightforward
lowly, esp in social rank or education
without adornment or show: a plain coat
(of fabric) without pattern or of simple untwilled weave
not attractive
not mixed; simple: plain vodka
knitting of or done in plain
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 porter: two pints of plain, please
(intensifier): just plain tired
Origin of plain
1- See also plains
Derived forms of plain
- plainly, adverb
- plainness, noun
British Dictionary definitions for plain (2 of 2)
/ (pleɪn) /
a dialect or poetic word for complain
Origin of plain
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for 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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with plain
In addition to the idioms beginning with plain
- plain as day
- plain sailing
also see:
- in plain English
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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