flatten

verb

flat·ten | \ ˈfla-tᵊn

flattened; flattening\ ˈflat-niŋ

, ˈfla-tə- \

Definition of flatten

transitive verb

: to make flat: such as

a : to make level or smooth

b : to knock down also : to defeat decisively

c : to make dull or uninspired —often used with out

d : to make lusterless flatten paint

e : to stabilize especially at a lower level

intransitive verb

: to become flat or flatter: such as

a : to become dull or spiritless

b : to extend in or into a flat position or form

c : to become uniform or stabilized often at a new lower level —usually used with out

Other Words from flatten Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about flatten

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Synonyms & Antonyms for flatten

Synonyms

even, level, plane, smooth, smoothen

Antonyms

rough, roughen

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 on the Web

Growth in the price of hotel room rates is also starting to flatten. — Keiko Morris, WSJ, "Slowing Hotel Growth Could be Worst in 10 Years," 12 Feb. 2019 Several even noted that these washcloths get fluffier after the first wash and stay appropriately fluffy over time, which is definitely great news since a lot of washcloths tend to flatten out and get less soft with use. — Brittney Morgan, House Beautiful, "3,000 People Swear By These 66 Cent Amazon Washcloths," 9 Aug. 2018 Courtesy Judd Foundation Unlike Hans Hofmann, who famously used color and texture in paint to create the illusion of depth, Judd sought to flatten the surface. — Siobhan Morrissey, miamiherald, "These paintings are rarely shown. You can see them in Miami's Design District. | Miami Herald," 17 May 2018 In action, this meant that rather than hair being blown around—which flattens curls and adds frizz—the Supersonic diffuser dries hair faster while still keeping curls defined. — Glamour, "Dyson’s Supersonic Hair Dryer Ended My 20-Year Battle Against Frizz," 28 Mar. 2019 Meadow, as its name suggests, takes its motif from the flora of a spring field—but presents these specimens flattened on a solid background, like fresh flowers pressed in a book. — Hadley Keller, House Beautiful, "The Perfect Floral Wallpaper for People Who Hate Florals," 19 Mar. 2019 Drop 4 large spoonfuls batter (about scant ¼ cup each) into pan, flatten slightly, and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side; transfer to plates. — Woman's Day Kitchen, Woman's Day, "Pea Fritters with Shrimp Salad," 7 Mar. 2019 The ephemera, the scraps, are enshrined with the big stuff, the arguments, declarations, and discoveries, our conversations flattened into one years-long instant message chat. — Bridget Read, Vogue, "Delete Your Account," 10 Feb. 2019 Washington's Tom Wilson also flattened Vegas forward Jonathan Marchessault with a blindside hit that could reverberate through the Stanley Cup Final. — Fox News, "Vegas Golden Knights score 6 goals to get past Washington Capitals in Stanley Cup Final opener," 29 May 2018

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.