verb
1 become/make sth softer/gentler
ADVERB
▪ considerably , a lot
▪ a bit , a little , slightly , somewhat
▪
His smile ~ed slightly.
▪
I've ~ed somewhat in my advancing age.
PREPOSITION
▪ towards/toward
▪
Her anger ~ed towards/toward him.
2 make sth seem less severe
ADVERB
▪ slightly , somewhat
VERB + SOFTEN
▪ try to
▪ help (to)
PHRASES
▪ ~ the blow (of sth)
▪
I should try to ~ the blow of this news.
▪
The bank may try to ~ the blow somewhat with a cut in interest rates.
▪ ~ into a smile
▪
Her face ~ed into a smile.
Soften is used with these nouns as the subject: ↑ expression , ↑ eye , ↑ face , ↑ tone , ↑ voice
Soften is used with these nouns as the object: ↑ blow , ↑ butter , ↑ effect , ↑ feature , ↑ image , ↑ impact , ↑ margarine , ↑ onion , ↑ outline , ↑ stance , ↑ tone