# soften

/ˈsɑfən/ (US) · /sˈɒfən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/soften
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to make or become less hard

verb · CEFR B1

to make something soft, or to become soft yourself.

For teachers: to make something soft or softer in texture; also used intransitively to describe a substance becoming less firm.

- Leave the butter on the counter for an hour to soften before you start baking.
- The clay began to soften as the potter worked it with warm water, eventually reaching the perfect consistency for the wheel.

### 2. to make less harsh or severe

verb · CEFR B2

to make a sound, light, or a person's attitude less strong or unkind.

For teachers: to moderate the intensity or severity of something, such as a light, a sound, or a person's emotional stance.

- He tried to soften his voice so he wouldn't wake the sleeping baby.
- The government attempted to soften the impact of the new tax by introducing several exemptions for low-income families.

### 3. to weaken someone's resistance

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to make someone less determined or less likely to fight back.

For teachers: to weaken the morale or physical resistance of an opponent, often as a preliminary to a main attack or negotiation.

- The lawyers tried to soften up the witness with friendly questions before asking the difficult ones.
- Heavy artillery was used to soften the enemy's defences before the infantry began their final advancement toward the city.

Usage: often used in the phrasal form 'soften up'

### 4. linguistics

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to change how a letter is pronounced so it sounds smoother.

For teachers: to undergo lenition or palatalization; to change a consonant from a fortis to a lenis articulation.

- In some languages, the 'k' sound softens to a 'ch' sound over time.
- The historical linguist explained how the intervocalic plosives began to soften, eventually leading to the distinct phonetic shifts observed in the daughter languages.

## Examples

- You should cook the vegetables until they soften.
- The manager's voice began to soften once he realized the mistake was not the employee's fault.
- The central bank may soften its stance on interest rates if the latest economic data suggests that inflation is finally coming under control.

---

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.