mellow

verb

mellowed; mellowing; mellows

transitive verb

: to make mellow

Time mellowed their feelings.

intransitive verb

: to become mellow

—often used with out

He was very demanding but has mellowed out over the years.

Synonyms of mellow

• relax
• wind down
• chill out

Examples of mellow in a Sentence

She was a tough and demanding teacher, but she has mellowed in her old age.

The wine needs time to mellow.

She was a tough and demanding teacher, but old age has mellowed her.

Recent Examples on the Web

Fatherhood gave him a different perspective, and the lack of regular wins in later years seemed to mellow him. —Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 21 May 2026

To mellow its flavor, soak the slices in ice water for 10 minutes, then drain before adding to the cucumbers. —Martha Stewart, 15 May 2026

Rinsing the onion with running water mellows its flavor just a touch. —Midwest Living, 15 May 2026

The star of the show, turning 60 on May 24 this year, has mellowed with age only marginally and for the most part, like Edith Piaf, il ne regrette rien. —Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

First Known Use

1575, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing mellow

• mellow out

Rhymes for mellow

• cello
• fellow
• jello
• melo
• velo
• marshmallow
• morello
• othello
• schoolfellow
• portobello
• violoncello

Kids Definition

mellow

1 of 2 adjective

mel·​low ˈmel-ō 

1

a

: tender and sweet because of ripeness

mellow peaches

b

: well aged and pleasingly mild

a mellow wine

2

a

: made gentle by age or experience

developed a mellow disposition from caring for his grandchildren

b

: pleasant sense 1, agreeable

mellow sounds

c

: laid-back

a mellow personality

3

: being soft and crumbly

mellow soil

4

: being clear, full, and pure

spoke in mellow tones

mellowly adverb

mellowness noun

mellow

2 of 2 verb

: to make or become mellow

old houses, weather-beaten and mellowed by time