soften
verbVerb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they soften | |
| he / she / it softens | |
| past simple softened | |
| past participle softened | |
| -ing form softening |
- [intransitive, transitive]
to become, or to make something softer （使）变软，软化 - [intransitive, transitive] soften (something)
to become or to make something less bright, rough or strong （使）柔和，和缓 - [intransitive, transitive]
to become or to make somebody/something more kind or friendly and less severe or critical （使）态度缓和，变温和，变宽厚 She felt herself softening towards him. 她感觉自己对他逐渐温和起来。 His face softened as he looked at his son. 他看着儿子，紧绷的面孔松弛下来。 - soften somebody/something
She softened her tone a little. 她稍稍缓和了一下语气。
Extra ExamplesHer face softened into a smile. 她的脸色渐渐温和起来，露出了微笑。 I've softened somewhat in my advancing age. 随着年龄的增长，我稍微温和了些。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- considerably
- a lot
- a bit
- …
- towards/toward
- [transitive] soften something
to reduce the force or the unpleasant effects of something 减轻；减缓；削弱 Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- slightly
- somewhat
- try to
- help (to)
- soften the blow (of something)
- soften into a smile
Idioms
soften/cushion the blow
to make something that is unpleasant seem less unpleasant and easier to accept 缓解；缓和 I should try to soften the blow of this news. 我应该设法缓解这消息带来的打击。 The chancellor may try to soften the blow somewhat with a cut in interest rates. 财政大臣可能会试图通过降低利率来稍微减弱这一打击。
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