smooth out

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In this cosmic battle, dark energy appears to be winning — expanding our universe over trillions of years until everything thins and smooths out into almost nothingness. Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 Instead, Apple is moving the release dates for those products to next spring, looking to smooth out its sales throughout the year. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026 Instead of constantly making adjustments and smoothing out wrinkles, just add these reusable grippers to the corners to keep your favorite rugs perfectly in place all the time. Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026 Applying a foot cream multiple times a week will help smooth out rough patches and keep feet feeling soft and looking pedi-ready all year round. Mary Honkus, Glamour, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for smooth out

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Smooth out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smooth%20out. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster