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soothe
/suːð/
to calm or comfort someone
The nurse's gentle voice helped soothe the crying baby.
The nurse's soft words made the baby stop crying by making it feel calm.
informal
to make someone feel calm or less upset
A warm bath can soothe sore muscles after a long workout.
Taking a warm bath relaxes tired muscles after exercising.
The music soothed her nerves before the big presentation.
The music helped her feel less anxious before speaking.
Often used with physical discomfort (e.g., pain) or emotional distress.
Collocations
soothe someone's nervesto calm someone downsoothe a painto relieve physical discomfortsoothe a situationto make a tense situation calmer
Pro Tip
Common Collocations
Remember that 'soothe' is often paired with 'nerves', 'pain', or 'worries'.
Gold Rule
Physical vs. Emotional
'Soothe' can refer to easing physical pain or emotional distress, but the context usually makes the meaning clear.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'suthen', from Old English 'sōþian', meaning 'to make true' or 'to prove', later evolving to mean 'to comfort' by the 14th century.
Usage Notes
Can be used for both physical and emotional comfort. Often followed by 'away' (e.g., 'soothe away the pain').
Word Breakdown
sooth
truth or comfort
root-e
verb suffix
suffixEnglish Dictionary