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.
The Sixers’ star-laden lineup looked out of sync at times, with Brown pointing to spacing issues as a factor in some of the turnovers, an area Philadelphia still has time to smooth out. — Chantz Martin Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026 The four-week average of claims, which smooths out week-to-week volatility, rose by 250 to 198,500. — Matt Ott, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026 Designed to firm up crepey skin, smooth out fine lines, and hydrate, the formula works its magic on the neck, jawline, and décolleté. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026 Economists like Robert Lucas and Edward Prescott — who each won Nobel Prizes — challenged Keynesian economics and its confidence that government policy could effectively smooth out the economy's ups and downs. — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 13 Oct. 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 20 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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