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Glite Dictionary
🤝 To make easier 📈 To reduce changes
to smooth out

to smooth out

6 3.4
Make a process or problem easier by removing difficulties
  • phrasal verb
  • /smuːð aʊt/
translation icon : resolver
  • During the meeting, we discussed several ways to smooth out the issues that were causing delays in the project.
  • smooth things out
  • smooth out the wrinkles
  • smooth out the bumps

What that little trick does is smooth out all of this issue.

Examples

  • That's why the good pollsters collect data over multiple days to smooth out such irregularities.

    Blog text (3)

  • It's going to help smooth out, you know, any problem areas.

  • OK, let me see if I can smooth this out a little bit.

  • But this does smooth out the overall supply.

  • I do feel like the powder helps to smooth out my skin.

  • But I trusted their affection for me, and mine for them, to smooth things out.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Finally, they would carefully add the quilt top and smooth it out flat.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Then you can use a toothpick to smooth out all the little gaps.

  • We're just getting the last little glitches smoothed out, that's all.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • As Carrie drives me home, we talk, and gradually the raw edge of her voice smooths out.

    Fiction book (1993)

Synonyms

to ease
vsto smooth out
305 2.1

To make something less painful or difficult

emphasizes removing difficulties and resolving issues, not just reducing severity
to sort out
vsto smooth out
222 2.7

To find and fix a problem or confusion

focuses on making a process easier rather than only organizing details
to straighten out
vsto smooth out
167 3.4

To solve a problem or make a misunderstanding clear

is used for easing processes generally, not only fixing confusions
to smooth
vsto smooth out
46 3.7

To make a process or situation easier by removing obstacles

has identical meaning but is the more common phrasal form
to iron out
vsto smooth out
22 3.8

Settle problems or disagreements by talking and finding a solution

is broader, applying to easing processes beyond formal discussions
to smooth down
vsto smooth out
1 3.8

To make something less rough by pressing it flat or by calming people

applies to easing processes generally rather than physical smoothing
to smooth out the rough edges
vsto smooth out
  • Informal
1 4.4

To make something better by fixing small problems

covers broader issue removal, not just small imperfections
to unwrinkle
vsto smooth out
6.3

To make a plan simpler by removing problems

focuses on resolving issues in any process rather than only simplifying plans
to fluidize
vsto smooth out
  • US
7.4

To make a process or system work more smoothly and be more flexible

focuses on removing specific problems rather than increasing general flexibility

Antonyms

to complicate
101 4.1

To make something harder to understand or do

to exacerbate
69 8.0

To make a problem or feeling worse

How Thorough

to resolve
623 3.3
to iron out
22 3.8
to smooth out
6 3.4

Surface Forms

smooth out infinitive
smoothed out past
smoothed out past participle
smoothing out present participle
smooths out third person singular

Morphology

smooth + out

The meaning 'to reduce irregularities or make something even' is directly derivable from 'smooth' (to make even or remove roughness) combined with the particle 'out' (which here signals completion or removal). This compositional pattern is common in English (e.g., 'iron out', 'level out') and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Smooth out comes from the image of rubbing a wrinkled cloth or pushing down bumps on a road to make it flat—smooth it out. So it means 'make a process or problem easier' by removing the rough parts.