smooth - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
smooth Word Meanings
- to make something smooth or even
- to reduce difficulties
- to calm or soothe someone's feelings
smooth Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
smooth Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/smuːð/
US
/smuːθ/
smooth Word Etymology
smooth = smoth (Old English); origin: Old English → Middle English → Modern English. Imagine a polished stone, shiny and even, representing something made smooth, like emotions or surfaces.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I grip a sandpaper block and move it along the wood, letting my wrist adjust as I press lightly and then ease off. I shift the angle a notch, pull back when the grain bites, and push forward again to smooth out the rough patches. The effort slows me down just enough, a small change that teaches me to keep control and not rush. When the surface feels even, I feel the task quiet and my mind settle.
Real Context
Smooth as a verb means making something even or less rough, but it also extends to easing processes and calming people. When you smooth a surface, you remove bumps or irregularities; when you smooth a plan, you reduce obstacles so things fit together more easily; and when you smooth someone's nerves, you calm them. Learners often confuse smooth with soft or gentle, or treat it as a generic filler verb. Common collocations include smooth out a problem, smooth over a disagreement, and a smoother path ahead. The idiom smooth sailing describes a situation proceeding without trouble, even though that phrase is not about physically smoothing something. Remember the context to choose the right sense.
Usage Reminders
- - Remember that smooth has physical and abstract senses
- - Use smooth out for fixing problems or rough edges
- - Use smooth over for easing tensions or hiding problems
- - Don’t confuse with soft when talking about emotions
- - Learn common phrasal verbs with smooth and practice them
Common Misconceptions
- Smooth only applies to physical surfaces
- Smooth equals soft in every emotional context
- Smooth out and smooth over mean the same thing
- You must always use smooth with objects, not with people
- Smooth cannot describe a process becoming easier
Thinking Differences
In English, smooth covers both tangible surfaces and abstract improvements, plus calm of emotions; learners often mix up physical smoothing with easing or comforting, and overuse it in non-idiomatic ways.
Learning Tips
- Practice with surface polishing, then apply to processes
- memorize phrasal verbs: smooth out, smooth over
- distinguish between calm and smooth in emotions
- listen for idioms like smooth sailing
- create your own example sentences
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 2: Usage
In which sentence is the word 'smooth' used correctly?
A.She sang a smooth song at the concert.
B.He cleaned the floor with a rough cloth.
C.The dog barked smooth.
D.The weather was smooth today.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is similar to 'smooth'?
A.Harsh
B.Dry
C.Sharp
D.Soothing
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of 'smooth'?
A.Tense
B.Jagged
C.Soft
D.Gentle
Step 5: Mastery
Can you think of a real-life context where something is described as 'smooth'?
A.A crowded subway station
B.A noisy construction site
C.A polished marble floor
D.A stormy sea
Related Listening
🌱 Lite (Beginner)
🔥 Advanced
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