simplify
Americanverb (used with object)
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simplifies,
present (3rd person singular)
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simplified,
past participle, past
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simplifying
present participle
verb
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to make less complicated, clearer, or easier
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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
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nonsimplificationnoun
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simplificationnoun
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simplificatornoun
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simplifiernoun
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supersimplifyverb (used with object)
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simplificativeadjective
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unsimplifiedadjective
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unsimplifyingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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simplifysimple
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simplifiessimple
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have simplifiedperfect
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has simplifiedperfect
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am simplifyingprogressive
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are simplifyingprogressive
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is simplifyingprogressive
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have been simplifyingperfect progressive
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has been simplifyingperfect progressive
Past
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simplifiedsimple
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had simplifiedperfect
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was simplifyingprogressive
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were simplifyingprogressive
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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
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Algebra
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Algebra
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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:
I would like to simplify my estate planning if possible.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 24, 2026
The government is set to press ahead with plans to replace two-tier council areas with single councils responsible for all local services, in what ministers say will simplify local government.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
"The resources would be different so we would simplify everything," the 30-year-old said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026
The Surrey team's method may also simplify battery production.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 1, 2026
At no moment did Francis see any point in trying to simplify the matter for Odile’s benefit.
From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson
Traverso recommends making the dumplings from scratch, but I prefer buying them pre-made and frozen, which simplifies this recipe even further.
From Salon ● Jun. 29, 2026
This simplifies assembly and could make large-scale manufacturing more practical.
From Science Daily ● May 31, 2026
While this approach simplifies planning, it can miss important differences in how inflation actually affects retiree budgets and may understate the real pressure on long-term purchasing power.
From MarketWatch ● May 13, 2026
The settlement simplifies matters for Musk, who plans to take his rocket company SpaceX public this summer in a potentially record IPO.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 4, 2026
“Well that simplifies things,” I heard my father say.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
The researchers went beyond simplified model compounds and tested the catalyst on real lignin collected from several biomass sources.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 25, 2026
Having a simplified menu of tools and functionality helped encourage Townsend Harris to switch to NumWorks.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026
For the players behind the winger, the game is simplified into looking to find this repeatable situation.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
Tencent and others are offering simplified installation and affordable coding plans to help users host OpenClaw agents on cloud servers.
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
The modern cuckoo clock is a simplified version of these ‘automatic’ mechanisms.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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
But simplifying marketing "is the execution opportunity" facing the chain, according to Kempczinski, who said the company is taking a "hard look" at the plan for the remainder of 2026.
From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026
But you will also save a chunk of money on your existing mortgage by simplifying your life and you will probably break even on those costs in a year or two.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 25, 2026
What Protestant and Counter-Reformation reforms meant, more or less whoever you were, was a simplifying of church music so that the words could be heard more clearly.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
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.
