Definition of flatten
flattened
;flattening
play \ˈflat-niŋ, ˈfla-tə-\transitive verb
: to make flat: such asa : to make level or smoothb : to knock down; also : to defeat decisivelyc : to make dull or uninspired —often used with outd : to make lusterless flatten painte : to stabilize especially at a lower level
intransitive verb
: to become flat or flatter: such asa : to become dull or spiritlessb : to extend in or into a flat position or formc : to become uniform or stabilized often at a new lower level —usually used with out
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Examples of flatten in a Sentence
Dozens of houses were flattened by the tornado.
The boxer was flattened in the seventh round.
The team got flattened in the first round of the play-offs.
Prices are expected to flatten after the holiday shopping season.
Recent Examples of flatten from the Web
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Though flattening demand for electricity and cheap natural gas are the main forces depressing wholesale energy prices, the credit means that wind producers can often offer their power to the market at the lowest price.
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Some recent signs show that Chinese carbon emissions might have already flattened -- a decade earlier than expected.
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And then there have been nights when the sinker gets away from him and flatten outs.
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Proving again that the quality of their shots on goal matters more than the quantity, the Pittsburgh Penguins flattened the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final by capitalizing on their prime scoring chances.
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This is a plant often distorted by fasciation, stalks flattening and growing broader than normal, or leaf shapes being distorted.
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Social media photos and video (see above and below) showed a construction crane toppled, pieces of buildings lofted into the air, traffic signs flattened, and tree limbs snapping off and littering streets.
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With winds traveling at nearly 70 miles per hour, Monday’s storm flattened traffic and advertising signs, impaired electrical cables, and tore the roofs from houses.
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Woodstock had just flattened the tires on his cousin’s truck with a knife and was heading on foot to a gas station at the corner of University Drive and Sunset Strip.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flatten'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
1630
First Known Use of flatten
1630
FLATTEN Defined for English Language Learners
flatten
playDefinition of flatten for English Language Learners
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: to make (something) flat or flatter
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: to become flat or flatter
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: to knock down (something or someone)
FLATTEN Defined for Kids
flatten
playDefinition of flatten for Students
flattened
;flattening
: to make or become flat She flattened herself against the wall.
Learn More about flatten
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See words that rhyme with flatten Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for flatten Spanish Central: Translation of flatten Nglish: Translation of flatten for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of flatten for Arabic speakers
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