soothe

verb

soothed; soothing

transitive verb

1
: to please by or as if by attention or concern : placate
2
: relieve, alleviate
soothe a cough
3
: to bring comfort, solace, or reassurance to
music soothes the soul

intransitive verb

: to bring peace, composure, or quietude
soother noun

Examples of soothe in a Sentence

The waiter tried to soothe the angry customer. This cream soothes aching muscles. Her nerves were soothed by a warm bath. Nothing can soothe their pain.
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.
Instead, try to soothe yourself back to sleep by visualizing something calming, like leaves floating down a stream or bubbles blowing through the air on a summer day. Angela Haupt, TIME, 5 Nov. 2024 Angham takes in all opinions and comments with a calm demeanor, soothing the room’s tension. Omar Baqbouq, Billboard, 1 Nov. 2024 Lower temperature and more hat-wearing can lead to a flaky scalp, but these dandruff shampoos can help soothe your skin. Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 1 Nov. 2024 Take the path that soothes your soul and offers greater opportunities to be yourself. Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for soothe 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sothen to verify, from Old English sōthian, from sōth

First Known Use

1617, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of soothe was in 1617

Dictionary Entries Near soothe

Cite this Entry

“Soothe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soothe. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

soothe

verb
soothed; soothing
1
: to please by or as if by attention or concern : placate
2
: alleviate, relieve
the lotion soothed his sunburn
3
: to bring comfort : calm down
music soothes the soul

More from Merriam-Webster on soothe

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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