soften
Americanverb (used with object)
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softens,
present (3rd person singular)
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softened,
past participle, past
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softening
present participle
verb (used without object)
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softens,
present (3rd person singular)
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softened,
past participle, past
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softening
present participle
verb
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to make or become soft or softer
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to make or become gentler
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(intr) commerce
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(of demand, a market, etc) to weaken
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(of a price) to fall
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Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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softensimple
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softenssimple
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have softenedperfect
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has softenedperfect
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am softeningprogressive
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are softeningprogressive
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is softeningprogressive
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have been softeningperfect progressive
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has been softeningperfect progressive
Past
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softenedsimple
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had softenedperfect
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was softeningprogressive
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were softeningprogressive
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had been softeningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of soften
Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; see origin at soft, -en 1
Explanation
To soften is to make something soft, or to become soft. A stick of butter will soften after sitting on the counter for an hour—or you can soften it by squishing it with a wooden spoon. You can literally soften things, the way a sculptor softens clay or you soften the skin on your hands with lotion. Turning down the sound is another way to soften something: "I'll soften the radio so it doesn't keep you awake." When you make something gentler or less severe, you also soften it, like when a lawmaker tries to soften the effect of a law by proposing a tax cut in return.
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:
There are a few tax-saving strategies you can employ whether you have a high income or are planning early retirement, often as part of year-end tax planning, to soften the impact of the widow’s penalty:
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 22, 2026
You could soften the onion first if you prefer, but I liked the little bit of bite it retained after baking.
From Salon ● Sep. 22, 2026
But in recent weeks, it has appeared to soften its stance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
"We need immigration to soften enough that housing has a chance to catch up," he said, while stressing the housing shortage was not caused by migrants.
From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026
Ms. Washington gave me a minute to soften up and give in, because she didn’t know about my heart and its resolution, and that she was dealing with a mighty and unbending will.
From "Ida B" by Katherine Hannigan
She also noted that as the diamond sector softens, shoppers have become more interested in colored gems.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026
The album was preceded in May by “Rough and Twisted,” a wandering blues number with riffs like barbed wire, and “In the Stars,” which softens arena rock with polished backing vocals.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
The additives lower the temperature at which the glass softens and make it flow more easily when heated, which could simplify manufacturing.
From Science Daily ● May 22, 2026
“When the housing market softens, and it has, condos usually go softer faster than single-family homes,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 13, 2026
Ollie's voice softens and so do his eyes, quiet and blue.
From "Girl in the Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse
But the immediate impact of the sanctions was softened by a series of exemptions that offer a de facto six-month grace period.
From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026
Canadian manufacturing activity softened again last month, with the industry continuing to notch a lift in production in the face of a fall in new orders and a spike in cost inflation, data showed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
India has also recently softened foreign direct investment rules, which could open the door to Chinese companies wanting to expand Indian investments.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
Once the chicken is cooked, I pull it out to shred later, while the vegetables underneath — softened in chicken fat, lemon and all those browned juices — become the base of the soup.
From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026
Biting them was like a battle between her teeth and the crackers, but then Mama told her to suck on one until it softened.
From "A Place to Belong" by Cynthia Kadohata
Nike falls after Bank of America downgrades the stock on concerns about innovation, wholesale revenues, and softening demand.
From Barron's ● Sep. 25, 2026
Likewise, movement from strong disagreement towards ordinary disagreement may signal a softening of attitudes even when overall disagreement remains high.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 9, 2026
Tourism-dependent segments, including luxury retail, department stores and jewelry, also face more headwinds if there are fewer visitors in Singapore or softening tourist spending.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026
“Labor Day weekend often reveals softening spot prices,” Eli Rubin of EBW Analytics says in a note.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
The rich smell of the porridge was intoxicating, and its hot mist made a translucent cloud around the woman, softening her many scars.
From "When the Sea Turned to Silver" by Grace Lin
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.
