# cool

/ˈkuɫ/ (US) · /kˈuːl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cool
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. temperature

adjective · CEFR A1

slightly cold in a way that is usually pleasant.

For teachers: of a moderately low temperature; refreshing rather than uncomfortably cold.

- The water in the swimming pool was nice and cool on a hot day.
- The evening air turned cool as soon as the sun dipped below the horizon, prompting the hikers to reach for their jackets.

### 2. fashionable or impressive

adjective · CEFR A2 · Informal

fashionable, attractive, or impressive in a modern way.

For teachers: denoting something that is fashionable, trendy, or socially impressive. Informal in register.

- That is a really cool jacket; where did you buy it?
- The startup's new office has a very cool aesthetic, featuring open spaces and modern art installations.

### 3. calm

adjective · CEFR B1

staying calm and not getting angry or upset.

For teachers: maintaining composure and emotional control, especially under pressure.

- He stayed cool during the exam even though the questions were hard.
- The pilot remained remarkably cool throughout the emergency landing, giving clear instructions to the cabin crew.

### 4. acceptable

adjective · CEFR B1 · Informal

used to say that something is okay or that you agree with a plan.

For teachers: indicating agreement, approval, or that a situation is acceptable. Primarily informal.

- If you want to meet at six instead of five, that is cool with me.
- The manager was cool with the team taking a longer lunch break after they finished the project ahead of schedule.

### 5. to lower temperature

verb · CEFR A2

to become less hot, or to make something less hot.

For teachers: to reduce in temperature; to lose or cause to lose heat.

- Let the soup cool for a few minutes before you eat it.
- The engineers designed a sophisticated system to cool the server room and prevent the hardware from overheating.

### 6. to relax

verb · CEFR B2 · Slang · Informal

to spend time relaxing or doing nothing special.

For teachers: to spend time relaxing or socialising without a specific purpose. Slang usage.

- We were just cooling at my house and listening to music.
- After a stressful week of finals, the students spent the entire Saturday just cooling by the lake.

### 7. the cool air

noun · CEFR B1

a place or time that is pleasantly cold.

For teachers: a state or place of moderate coldness or refreshing temperature.

- It was a relief to step out of the sun and into the cool of the church.
- They sat on the porch enjoying the cool of the evening after a particularly humid summer afternoon.

### 8. composure

noun · CEFR B2

the ability to stay calm and controlled.

For teachers: the quality of being calm and in control of one's emotions.

- The player lost his cool and started shouting at the referee.
- Maintaining one's cool during a high-stakes negotiation is often the difference between success and failure.

## Examples

- The weather is nice and cool today.
- Everyone at the party thought his new leather jacket looked really cool.
- The architect designed the building with high ceilings and stone floors to keep the interior cool during the peak of the summer heat.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.