smooth out
phrasal verb
smoothed out; smoothing out; smooths out also smoothes out
1
: to make (something) smooth or flat
Help me smooth out the tablecloth.
After we dug up the soil, we smoothed it out before we planted the seeds.
2
: to make (something) easier by removing or dealing with problems
We will smooth out the election process by next year.
She tried to smooth things out with her daughter-in-law, but the damage was done.
Examples of smooth out in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Not everyone wants to travel with a portable steamer or trust notoriously finicky hotel irons to smooth out their clothing, so investing in wrinkle-free materials from the jump is a great way to cut down the obstacles between you and a day out enjoying your vacation.
—
Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 18 May 2024
Even a severe shake was smoothed out and the overall feel of the video was calmer than the original.
—PCMAG, 16 May 2024
In particular, smoothing out answers along the ricocheting path of O’s was a formidable challenge.
—Sam Corbin, New York Times, 12 May 2024
Using fillers to address nasal labial folds — the lines running from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth — can help smooth out these lines and give a more youthful appearance.
—Carlos Wolf, Miami Herald, 11 May 2024
Our skin texture smoothed out drastically and our scars lightened up.
—Sophie Dodd, Peoplemag, 8 May 2024
Screenwriter Jennifer Westfeldt adapted the story and smoothed out some of its more distracting complications.
—Lyz Lenz, Rolling Stone, 7 May 2024
As Honk recently explained after his electronic mailbox was visited by a flurry of complaints of the rough ride in that area after the two billion-plus was spent, Caltrans intends to smooth out the older lanes beginning next year.
—Jim Radcliffe, Orange County Register, 3 May 2024
Darker roasts lean slightly bitter and beg for a splash of something creamy to smooth out and balance the flavor.
—Jolene Thym, The Mercury News, 2 May 2024
Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 18 May 2024
Even a severe shake was smoothed out and the overall feel of the video was calmer than the original.
—PCMAG, 16 May 2024
In particular, smoothing out answers along the ricocheting path of O’s was a formidable challenge.
—Sam Corbin, New York Times, 12 May 2024
Using fillers to address nasal labial folds — the lines running from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth — can help smooth out these lines and give a more youthful appearance.
—Carlos Wolf, Miami Herald, 11 May 2024
Our skin texture smoothed out drastically and our scars lightened up.
—Sophie Dodd, Peoplemag, 8 May 2024
Screenwriter Jennifer Westfeldt adapted the story and smoothed out some of its more distracting complications.
—Lyz Lenz, Rolling Stone, 7 May 2024
As Honk recently explained after his electronic mailbox was visited by a flurry of complaints of the rough ride in that area after the two billion-plus was spent, Caltrans intends to smooth out the older lanes beginning next year.
—Jim Radcliffe, Orange County Register, 3 May 2024
Darker roasts lean slightly bitter and beg for a splash of something creamy to smooth out and balance the flavor.
—Jolene Thym, The Mercury News, 2 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'smooth out.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near smooth out
Cite this Entry
“Smooth out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smooth%20out. Accessed 28 May. 2024.
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