flatten

verb

flat·​ten ˈfla-tᵊn 

flattened; flattening ˈflat-niŋ 

ˈfla-tə-

transitive verb

: 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

intransitive verb

: 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

flattener

ˈflat-nər 

ˈfla-tə-

noun

Synonyms

• even
• level
• plane
• smooth
• smoothen

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

Frequently, influencers said their videos were deliberately flattening important context around tax law. —Julie Zauzmer Weil, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2024

Buildings were also flattened in the capital Taipei, about 100 miles from the epicenter. —Wayne Chang, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1630, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

flatten

verb

flat·​ten ˈflat-ᵊn 

flattened; flattening ˈflat-niŋ 

-ᵊn-iŋ

: to make or become flat