flattened; flattening
ˈflat-niŋ 
ˈfla-tə-
: to make flat
flatten the dough into a disk
The dog flattened its ears.
: such as
a
: to make level or smooth
flattened the papers
b
: to knock down
houses flattened by the tornado
also
: to defeat decisively
got flattened in the first round of playoffs
c
: to make dull or uninspired
… small changes … that flatten a writer's style …—
John Gross
—often used with outJohn GrossIn thus flattening out a complicated story, the book misses an opportunity …—Tony Judt
Tony Judt
d
: to make lusterless
flatten paint
e
: to stabilize especially at a lower level
a candidate promising to flatten interest rates
: 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
prices flattening out
flat·ten·er
ˈflat(ᵊ)nə(r)
plural -s
: one that flattens: such as
a
: a worker who flattens materials (as metal, leather, paper, or glass)
b
: a machine for flattening or straightening plates or sheets
Examples of flatten in a Sentence
Verb
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
New Atlas, 13 June 2026
The gas should only flatten into a pancake shape once the quasar has matured.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 12 June 2026
The storms also damaged and flattened homes while bringing down trees and power lines, leaving residents across several states to pick up the pieces.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026
But the learning curve will eventually flatten.
—Jerry Perez, The Drive, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for flatten
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show current usage.
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Verb
The whole box tilts itself vertically to let folding micro-LED panels emerge and flatten completely while the high-quality speaker system unpacks itself.
—New Atlas, 13 June 2026
The gas should only flatten into a pancake shape once the quasar has matured.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 12 June 2026
The storms also damaged and flattened homes while bringing down trees and power lines, leaving residents across several states to pick up the pieces.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026
But the learning curve will eventually flatten.
—Jerry Perez, The Drive, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for flatten
Cite this Entry
“Flatten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flatten. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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