simple

play

adjective sim·ple \ ˈsim-pəl \

Definition of simple

simpler play \ˈsim-p(ə-)lər\; simplest play \ˈsim-p(ə-)ləst\

1 :free from guile :innocent

2 a :free from vanity :modest

b :free from ostentation or display

a simple outfit

3 :of humble origin or modest position

a simple farmer

4 a :lacking in knowledge or expertise

a simple amateur of the arts

b (1) :stupid

(2) :mentally retarded

c :not socially or culturally sophisticated :naive; also :credulous

5 a :sheer, unmixed

simple honesty

b :free of secondary complications

a simple vitamin deficiency

c (1) :having only one main clause and no subordinate clauses

a simple sentence

(2) of a subject or predicate :having no modifiers, complements, or objects

d :constituting a basic element :fundamental

e :not made up of many like units

a simple eye

6 :free from elaboration or figuration

simple harmony

7 a (1) :not subdivided into branches or leaflets

a simple stem

a simple leaf

(2) :consisting of a single carpel

(3) :developing from a single ovary

a simple fruit

b :controlled by a single gene

simple inherited characters

8 :not limited or restricted :unconditional

a simple obligation

9 :readily understood or performed

simple directions

the adjustment was simple to make

10 of a statistical hypothesis :specifying exact values for one or more statistical parameters — compare composite 3

—

simpleness

play \ˈsim-pəl-nəs\ noun

See simple defined for English-language learners

See simple defined for kids

Examples of simple in a Sentence

The solution to the problem was relatively simple.
The answer is really quite simple.
There are three simple steps to follow.
The camera is simple to use.
Don't go into too much detail in the report. Just keep it simple and to the point.
The melody is very simple.
I'm a simple farmer just trying to make a living.
He enjoys the simple pleasure of spending time with his wife and kids after work.
Relaxing on the beach and watching the sunset is one of life's simple pleasures.

Recent Examples of simple from the Web

Wouldn't the Internet be a simpler place if instead of having 79 million search results for brownie recipes, there were just a tidy handful of truly incredible ones?

— carey polis, Bon Appetit, "I Love This Brownie Recipe Even More Than I Loved Hanson in Middle School," 29 Aug. 2017
If that's the case, reducing your PFR exposure might be as simple as upgrading your couch: Many furniture retailers now sell flame retardant-free items.

— Health.com, "Trying to Get Pregnant? You Don't Have to Freak Out About Chemicals in Your Yoga Mat," 28 Aug. 2017
Tombaugh made his discovery using a device called a blink comparator, which relies on a simple yet elegant technique: look at two pictures of a star field and compare them.

— jesse emspak, Smithsonian, "Astronomy Needs You: To Help in the Hunt for Planet 9," 28 Aug. 2017
The simple answer to Thane’s question was that, yes, the city can — and does — require certain building setbacks from streets or sidewalks.

— diane stafford, kansascity, "Development in midtown KC eating up the city’s green spaces," 27 Aug. 2017
Bray found that simple response unobtrusive and affirming.

— natalie jacewicz, Kaiser Health News, "Writing Your Way Through Cancer," 25 Aug. 2017
Adding Apple Pencil support to the iPhone, in other words, could be as simple as turning it on.

— don reisinger, Fortune, "Apple’s Latest Patents Hint at iPhone Pencil Support," 24 Aug. 2017
Sending thoughtful and interesting gifts to friends is suddenly so simple.

— dwight garner, Esquire, "The Problem with Spending It When You Have It," 24 Aug. 2017
In a new video for Vogue, Kendall hangs out at NYC's Baccarat Hotel and walks viewers through her incredibly simple everyday makeup look in just two minutes — and the dewy result is definitely going to be your go-to back-to-school look.

— andrea park, Teen Vogue, "Kendall Jenner Shows Her Everyday Makeup Routine on Video," 22 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'simple.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of simple

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin simplus, alteration of Latin simplic-, simplex single, having one ingredient, plain, from sem-, sim- one + -plic-, -plex -fold — more at same, -fold

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

simple Synonyms

Synonyms

bald, bare, naked, plain-vanilla, plain, unadorned, undecorated, unembellished, unornamented, unvarnished

Antonyms

adorned, decorated, embellished, fancy, ornamented

Related Words

denuded, divested, stripped; au naturel, earthy, elemental, homely, natural, unsophisticated; forthright, honest, modest, unpretentious; clean; antiseptic, austere, bleak, severe, spartan, stark; minimalist; inconspicuous, muted, restrained, sober, subdued, toned (down), unobtrusive; conservative, quiet, understated

Near Antonyms

flamboyant, flashy, garish, gaudy, glittery, glitzy, loud, ostentatious, showy, splashy, swank (or swanky), tawdry; bedizened, florid, lurid, ornate; exaggerated, overdecorated, overdone, overwrought; baroque, elaborate, extravagant, ornate, rococo; appareled (or apparelled), arrayed, bedecked, decked-out, dressed, embroidered, garnished, trimmed

Synonym Discussion of simple

simple, foolish, silly, fatuous, asinine mean actually or apparently deficient in intelligence. simple implies a degree of intelligence inadequate to cope with anything complex or involving mental effort.

- considered people simple who had trouble with computers

foolish implies the character of being or seeming unable to use judgment, discretion, or good sense.

- foolish stunts

silly suggests failure to act as a rational being especially by ridiculous behavior.

- the silly antics of revelers

fatuous implies foolishness, inanity, and disregard of reality.

- fatuous conspiracy theories

asinine suggests utter and contemptible failure to use normal rationality or perception.

- an asinine plot

synonyms see in addition easy

simple

noun

Definition of simple

1 a :a person of humble birth :commoner

thought very little of anybody, simples or gentry
—Virginia Woolf

b (1) :a rude or credulous person :ignoramus

(2) :a mentally retarded person

2 a :a medicinal plant

b :a vegetable drug having only one ingredient

3 :one component of a complex; specifically :an unanalyzable constituent

Recent Examples of simple from the Web

Simple yet effective: of this morning, the post has over 42,000 likes.

— elise taylor, Vogue, "Princess Madeleine of Sweden Made a Surprisingly Modern Pregnancy Announcement," 28 Aug. 2017
That's what makes the simple yet oh-so-delicious cutlet our 2017 Dish of the Year.

— emma wartzman, Bon Appetit, "Cutlets Are the 2017 Dish of the Year," 17 Aug. 2017
Joe Robertson: 816-234-4789, @robertsonkcstar Robert A. Cronkleton: 816-234-4261, @cronkb Simple, essential ways to help prevent wet basements ▪

— robert a. cronkleton and joe robertson, kansascity, "KC area, homeowners are swamped after third wave of summer storms," 6 Aug. 2017
Simple as ribs may appear, there’s an art to mastering them, as anyone from a weekend warrior to champion pit master can attest.

— noelle carter, charlotteobserver, "These tips will help you cook ribs like a pro," 25 July 2017
Patients also do simple, real-world experiments, to see if feared consequences materialize.

— benedict carey, New York Times, "England’s Mental Health Experiment: Free Talk Therapy," 24 July 2017
The set is a simple yet effective platform framed by two pillars, with a surprise special effect that emerges quietly after a couple of scenes.

— christopher arnott, courant.com, "A Simple, Unassuming 'Love's Labour's Lost' Outdoors At St. Joseph's," 18 July 2017
Sturgeon is wisely kept simple, accompanied by dill sauce and celery-root puree.

— phil vettel, chicagotribune.com, "Review: Here's why a table at Fulton Market Kitchen should be a tough get," 23 June 2017
The reason is simple: The males need to defend themselves and their group against potential challengers.

— smithsonianmag.com, "Why These Vegetarian Monkeys Have Sharp Predator Teeth," 17 June 2017

First Known Use of simple

14th century

SIMPLE Defined for English Language Learners

simple

play

adjective

Definition of simple for English Language Learners

: not hard to understand or do
: having few parts : not complex or fancy
: not special or unusual

SIMPLE Defined for Kids

simple

play

adjective sim·ple \ ˈsim-pəl \

Definition of simple for Students

simpler; simplest

1 :not hard to understand or solve

a simple task

2 :¹easy 1, straightforward

a simple explanation

3 :lacking in education, experience, or intelligence

The queen was really a simple soul and always … had done nothing except state the overly obvious.
—Kate DiCamillo, The Tale of Despereaux

4 :not complex or fancy

She wore simple clothing.

5 :innocent 1, modest

6 :not rich or important

simple folk

7 :without qualification :sheer

the simple truth

Medical Dictionary

simple

play

adjective sim·ple \ ˈsim-pəl \

medical Definition of simple

simpler play \-p(ə-)lər\; simplest play \-p(ə-)ləst\

1 :free from complexity or difficulty: as

a :easily treated or cured

a simple vitamin deficiency

b :controlled by a single gene

simple inherited characters

2 :of, relating to, or being an epithelium in which the cells are arranged in a single layer

simple

noun

medical Definition of simple

1 :a medicinal plant

2 :a vegetable drug having only one ingredient

Law Dictionary

simple

adjective sim·ple

legal Definition of simple

1 :oral or written but not under seal or of record

2 :not extreme, aggravated, or complicated

simple kidnapping

3 :having no limitations or restrictions — see also fee simple

—

simply

adverb

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simple

Definition of simple

simpleness

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Examples of simple in a Sentence

Recent Examples of simple from the Web

Origin and Etymology of simple

simple Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

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Near Antonyms

Synonym Discussion of simple

simple

Definition of simple

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SIMPLE Defined for English Language Learners

simple

Definition of simple for English Language Learners

SIMPLE Defined for Kids

simple

Definition of simple for Students

Medical Dictionary

simple

medical Definition of simple

simple

medical Definition of simple

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simple

legal Definition of simple

simply

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