flattened; flattening
ˈflat-niŋ 
ˈfla-tə-
: 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
: 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
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
While suona reeds are traditionally plant-based, Zhen flattens segments of plastic straws to fit into his mouthpiece.
—
William Tong, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
Instead of flattening the forms, the museum’s lighting scheme accentuates textures, drawing out the etched surfaces, gouges, and contours that make Giacometti’s work so tactile.
—Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
In 1976: One of the deadliest earthquakes in modern history flattened the Tangshan region of China.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 29 July 2025
The city was flattened during World War II, when some 80,000 Rotterdammers were left homeless after a single night of the German air raids.
—Julie Belcove, Robb Report, 27 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for flatten
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William Tong, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
Instead of flattening the forms, the museum’s lighting scheme accentuates textures, drawing out the etched surfaces, gouges, and contours that make Giacometti’s work so tactile.
—Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
In 1976: One of the deadliest earthquakes in modern history flattened the Tangshan region of China.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 29 July 2025
The city was flattened during World War II, when some 80,000 Rotterdammers were left homeless after a single night of the German air raids.
—Julie Belcove, Robb Report, 27 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for flatten
Cite this Entry
“Flatten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flatten. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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