simple
Americanadjective
-
simpler,
comparative
-
simplest
superlative
-
easy to understand, deal with, use, etc.: simple tools.
a simple matter;
simple tools.
- Synonyms:
- lucid, unmistakable, understandable, intelligible, clear
-
not elaborate or artificial; plain.
a simple style.
- Synonyms:
- neat, unembellished, natural
-
not ornate or luxurious; unadorned.
a simple gown.
-
unaffected; unassuming; modest.
a simple manner.
-
not complicated.
a simple design.
-
not complex or compound; single
-
occurring or considered alone; mere; bare.
the simple truth;
a simple fact.
-
free of deceit or guile; sincere; unconditional.
a frank, simple answer.
-
common or ordinary.
a simple soldier.
-
not grand or sophisticated; unpretentious.
a simple way of life.
-
humble or lowly.
simple folk.
-
inconsequential or rudimentary.
- Synonyms:
- unnecessary, nonessential, trivial, trifling
-
lacking mental acuteness or sense.
a simple way of thinking.
-
Chemistry.
-
composed of only one substance or element.
a simple substance.
-
not mixed.
-
-
Botany. not divided into parts: a simple stem.
a simple leaf;
a simple stem.
-
Zoology. not compound.
a simple ascidian.
-
Music. uncompounded or without overtones; single.
simple tone.
-
Grammar. having only the head without modifying elements included.
The simple subject of “The dappled pony gazed over the fence” is “pony.”
-
(of a verb tense) consisting of a main verb with no auxiliaries, as takes (simple present) or stood (simple past) (opposed to compound).
-
Mathematics. linear.
-
Optics. (of a lens) having two optical surfaces only.
noun
-
an ignorant, foolish, or gullible person.
-
something simple, unmixed, or uncompounded.
-
Textiles. simples, cords for controlling the warp threads in forming the shed on draw-looms.
-
a person of humble origins; commoner.
-
an herb or other plant used for medicinal purposes.
country simples.
adjective
-
not involved or complicated; easy to understand or do
a simple problem
-
plain; unadorned
a simple dress
-
consisting of one element or part only; not combined or complex
a simple mechanism
-
unaffected or unpretentious
although he became famous, he remained a simple and well-liked man
-
not guileful; sincere; frank
her simple explanation was readily accepted
-
of humble condition or rank
the peasant was of simple birth
-
weak in intelligence; feeble-minded
-
(prenominal) without additions or modifications; mere
the witness told the simple truth
-
(prenomina) ordinary or straightforward
a simple case of mumps
-
chem (of a substance or material) consisting of only one chemical compound rather than a mixture of compounds
-
maths
-
(of a fraction) containing only integers
-
(of an equation) containing variables to the first power only; linear
-
(of a root of an equation) occurring only once; not multiple
-
-
biology
-
not divided into parts
a simple leaf
a simple eye
-
formed from only one ovary
simple fruit
-
-
music relating to or denoting a time where the number of beats per bar may be two, three, or four
noun
-
a simpleton; fool
-
a plant, esp a herbaceous plant, having medicinal properties
Usage
What is a basic definition of simple? Simple describes something as being easy to understand or do, as being plain or not elaborate, or as being ordinary or common. The word simple has many other senses as an adjective and a noun. If something is simple, it involves little challenge or will be really easy. For example, counting to five is a simple task for most adults. Spoons and forks are simple eating tools, without any complex parts. In this sense, simple is a synonym of words such as easy and uncomplicated. Real-life examples: Young students start with simple subjects, such as addition, before learning harder ones, such as multiplication. An untied shoelace is a simple problem to solve for most adults. Most young people find using a computer to be really simple. Used in a sentence: I made dinner with a simple recipe designed for new cooks. Another sense of simple describes something as being plain and lacking flourishes or embellishments. For example, a simple shirt may be plain grey or white and not have any designs or logos on it. Used in a sentence: She wore a simple dress to the birthday party, with no bows or ruffles. Simple can also describe something as being ordinary, mundane, or humble. Real-life examples: Most pets lead simple lives of eating and sleeping. Some couples have simple weddings with no band, fireworks, or colorful decorations. A simple job is one you can do without thinking hard. Used in a sentence: After winning the championship, I retired to live a simple life as a farmer.
Commonly Confused
See simplistic.
Synonym Usage
See homely.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
oversimplenessnoun
-
simplenessnoun
-
unsimplenessnoun
-
oversimpleadjective
-
subsimpleadjective
-
ultrasimpleadjective
-
unsimpleadjective
-
oversimplyadverb
-
unsimplyadverb
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of simple
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English adjective simple, simpel(le), from Old French simple, sinple, from Latin simplus “simple” (in simpla pecunia “simple fee or sum”), equivalent to sim- “one” + -plus, as in duplus “double”; Middle English noun “commoner,” derivative of the adjective; see simplex, duple, double; see also -fold; cognate with Greek háplos ( see haplo-);
Explanation
Simple refers to something that's easy and uncomplicated, without too many steps to follow. Simple comes from the Latin word for single (simplus). Simple things are often solo, like a simple dress or directions with one step. A teacher might advise you to KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid). What could be bad about a word for something easy? Well, it's not that simple. It can be an insult. If you call your little brother simple when he can't tie his shoes, you mean he isn't very smart. Rude!
Vocabulary lists containing simple
The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 4
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!
The New SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words
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!
'Tis A Gift To Be Simple: Words For National Simplicity Day
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:
Harper said taking simple precautions could prevent people from getting into dangerous situations.
From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026
The apparent strategy is simple: say as little as possible and avoid offending anyone.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026
That was recorded in Los Angeles and produced by Inflo and Danger Mouse, whereas this came together in a simple Southampton studio in the U.K.
From Salon ● Oct. 23, 2026
“I might have them read a draft of a long email I wrote or ask them after a meeting if I kept things simple and clear.”
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026
His desk is simple, made of well-sanded and -oiled pine.
From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy
Glaeser has played an important role in developing cryo-EM, which offers a potentially simpler way to determine molecular structures than traditional X-ray crystallography.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 22, 2026
She had planned to meet them in London to travel to Somerset together, but can now arrange simpler and shorter journeys from their own respective homes.
From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026
He also went to the pub and mastered a simpler game: foosball.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026
“December’s strategy and outlook update is an opportunity to set out the next phase of delivering a simpler, stronger and more valuable BP,” the company said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
Everything was simpler when they were just three kids being best friends.
From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
John Dickerson:Now that you’ve been on a book tour for a while, what is your simplest way of helping people understand?
From Slate ● Oct. 17, 2026
Sir Ken said AI poses unknown threats, telling Thames House: "Put at its simplest, human history has given us no experience of facing an actor which is smarter than we are".
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
The Kondo effect appears in one of the simplest examples of a strongly correlated system.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 10, 2026
At its simplest, that works by blasting signals to drown out, confuse or supplant an adversary’s communications.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
In simplest terms, the sound waves of consonant notes "fit" together much better than the sound waves of dissonant notes.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
