Word
soothe
US/ˈsuð/
UK/sˈuːð/
Definition
v. to make someone feel calmer or less upset. It can also mean to make a part of your body feel less painful.
v. to alleviate pain, distress, or agitation; to exert a calming or pacifying influence. Often describes the reduction of physical inflammation or emotional turbulence.
Examples
“The mother sang a song to soothe the crying baby.”
“Applying a cold compress can help soothe the skin after a minor burn or insect bite.”
“The diplomat's carefully chosen words were intended to soothe the rising tensions between the two nations before the formal negotiations began.”
Examples
simple
“The mother sang a song to soothe the crying baby.”
contextual
“Applying a cold compress can help soothe the skin after a minor burn or insect bite.”
complex
“The diplomat's carefully chosen words were intended to soothe the rising tensions between the two nations before the formal negotiations began.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and typically takes a person or a physical sensation as its direct object.
Real-World Examples
“Some used toothpaste to soothe bites and one used a croissant wrapper to dress wounds.” “A lullaby is a song or piece of music that is played to soothe and send the audience to sleep.” Etymology
From Middle English sothen (“to verify, prove the validity of”), from Old English sōþian (“to verify, prove, confirm, bear witness to”), from Proto-West Germanic sanþōn, from Proto-Germanic sanþōną (“to prove, certify, acknowledge, testify”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁es- (“to be”). Cognate with Danish sande (“to verify”), Swedish sanna (“to verify”), Icelandic sanna (“to verify”). See also sooth. Displaced native Old English frēfran, ġefrēfran (“to comfort, console, soothe”), and partially displaced native Old English stillan, ġestillan (“to calm, become calm, pacify, quieten”) (whence modern still). The semantic evolution of "to verify, prove the validity of" → "to comfort" (first attested in the late 17th century) comes from the notion of assuaging someone by supporting the truth of what they say.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/soothe