English Reference

Word

calmer

US/ˈkɑɫmɝ/

UK/kˈɑːmɐ/

Definition

adj. more peaceful, quiet, or relaxed than before. You use this to describe someone who is less angry or a place that is less busy.

adj. the comparative form of 'calm'; indicates a state of greater tranquility, less agitation, or reduced intensity. Often follows linking verbs such as 'become', 'seem', or 'feel'.

Examples

“The sea is much calmer today than it was yesterday.”

“After taking a few deep breaths, the speaker felt calmer and was able to continue the presentation.”

“The market grew significantly calmer following the central bank's announcement, as investors felt reassured by the new stability measures and the promise of lower interest rates.”

Examples

simple

“The sea is much calmer today than it was yesterday.”

contextual

“After taking a few deep breaths, the speaker felt calmer and was able to continue the presentation.”

complex

“The market grew significantly calmer following the central bank's announcement, as investors felt reassured by the new stability measures and the promise of lower interest rates.”

Usage

Comparative adjective; typically followed by 'than' when making a direct comparison.

Pitfall

more calmer

calmer

Calmer is already a comparative form; adding 'more' creates a double comparative error.

Etymology

From calm (verb) + -er.

From calm (adjective) + -er.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
A2 · Elementary
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

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