flatten

verb

flat·​ten ˈfla-tᵊn 

flattened; flattening ˈflat-niŋ 

ˈfla-tə-

transitive verb

: to make flat: such as

a

: to make level or smooth

b

: to knock down

also : to defeat decisively

c

: to make dull or uninspired

—often used with out

d

: to make lusterless

flatten paint

e

: to stabilize especially at a lower level

intransitive verb

: to become flat or flatter: such as

a

: to become dull or spiritless

b

: to extend in or into a flat position or form

c

: to become uniform or stabilized often at a new lower level

—usually used with out

flattener

ˈflat-nər 

ˈfla-tə-

noun

Synonyms

• even
• level
• plane
• smooth
• smoothen

Examples of flatten in a Sentence

Dozens of houses were flattened by the tornado.

The boxer was flattened in the seventh round.

The team got flattened in the first round of the play-offs.

Prices are expected to flatten after the holiday shopping season.

Recent Examples on the Web

Even as trends that promote individuality emerge, the flattening nature of the algorithm means the average person interacts with them the way TikTok and other social media sites directly suggest: by spending money. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 9 Jan. 2025

Various pages were turned inward, or tagged, or have flattened corners. —Alexis Wright, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025

North Carolina county hit hard by Helene suffers another blow Bridges for Avery / via Facebook Nearly a dozen foot bridges washed away last weekend in Avery County, North Carolina, where Hurricane Helene flattened the landscape earlier this year. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 31 Dec. 2024

Cramer reached speeds exceeding 100 mph, continuing to flee even after a spike strip flattened two of his tires, according to court documents. —George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1630, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

flatten

verb

flat·​ten ˈflat-ᵊn 

flattened; flattening ˈflat-niŋ 

-ᵊn-iŋ

: to make or become flat