smooth out

phrasal verb

smoothed out; smoothing out; smooths out also smoothes out

1

: to make (something) smooth or flat

Help me smooth out the tablecloth.

After we dug up the soil, we smoothed it out before we planted the seeds.

2

: to make (something) easier by removing or dealing with problems

We will smooth out the election process by next year.

She tried to smooth things out with her daughter-in-law, but the damage was done.

Examples of smooth out in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Throughout its 120 year history the Clover Club—a gin sour, tarted up with fresh raspberries and smoothed out with an egg white—has been celebrated, then dismissed, then forgotten, and now, finally, is back on top. —Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 7 Feb. 2026

Research even suggests the meditative, stress-melting vibe of yoga could help smooth out digestion and alleviate some symptoms of IBS. —Julia Ries Wexler, SELF, 6 Feb. 2026

Has any of that been smoothed out? —Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Feb. 2026

Formulated with hyaluronic acid and aloe water, the energizing balm has restored moisture under my eyes while helping to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. —Melony Forcier, InStyle, 30 Jan. 2026

Rhymes for smooth out

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout