SOFTEN


Meaning of SOFTEN in English

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

Oxford Collocations English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь словосочетаний .