soft
/sɒft/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
- 1.
Soft means not hard, firm, or stiff. It can also mean gentle, mild, or quiet.
- This pillow feels soft.
- She spoke in a soft voice.
- The fabric is soft and smooth.
- 2.
Soft can describe something that is not strong, harsh, or severe. It is often used for sounds, light, colours, and criticism.
- The room had soft lighting.
- He gave her soft criticism.
- I like soft music before sleep.
noun
Soft is sometimes used in informal speech for a weak or gentle quality, especially in contrasts like hard and soft.
- The soft of the cushion feels nice.
- We need more soft in this design.
- The app uses hard and soft contrast.
Adinary Nuance
Soft is closer to gentle or mild than to weak. Use soft when you mean smooth, quiet, or not hard; use gentle for kind behaviour, and mild for a light degree. Compared with tender, soft is more common for objects, sounds, and colours. Compared with smooth, soft focuses more on feel than on texture alone.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- mềm
- Spanish
- suave
- Chinese
- 柔软
- Japanese
- 柔らかい
- Korean
- 부드러운
Etymology
Soft comes from Old English sōfte, meaning 'gentle' or 'mild'. It has been used in English since early medieval times.
Common phrases
soft voicesoft lightsoft touchsoft skills
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is soft a common word in everyday English?
- Yes. It is very common in speech, writing, and descriptions of things.
- What is the difference between soft and gentle?
- Soft describes feel, sound, or appearance. Gentle usually describes behaviour or actions.
- Can soft be used for colours?
- Yes. Soft colours are light, calm, and not bright.
- Is soft used in business English?
- Yes, especially in phrases like soft skills and soft market.