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

For investors wanting to smooth out stocks’ rockiness in a single fund, some firms blend volatility protection with a more diversified portfolio of stocks. —Hank Tucker, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025

With the latest legislation attempting to smooth out the snags in the original Live Local Act, some communities say they could be left more frustrated than before, concerned that changes could erode their ability to guide affordable housing that blends with cities’ existing infrastructure. —Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2025

Winona Estriol Cream with Tretinoin $150 for three months Buy Now Winona’s estriol cream includes tretinoin to smooth out lines and wrinkles while evening your skin tone; meanwhile, the estriol is designed to tighten and plump your skin. —Korin Miller, Flow Space, 28 Mar. 2025

The backing peeled off easily from the corners, and air bubbles were easily avoidable by applying pressure slowly and using the putty knife to smooth out the front of the wallpaper. —Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 27 Mar. 2025

Rhymes for smooth out

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