flattened; flattening
ˈflat-niŋ 
ˈfla-tə-
: to make flat
flatten the dough into a disk
The dog flattened its ears.
: such as
a
: to make level or smooth
flattened the papers
b
: to knock down
houses flattened by the tornado
also
: to defeat decisively
got flattened in the first round of playoffs
c
: to make dull or uninspired
… small changes … that flatten a writer's style …—
John Gross
—often used with outIn thus flattening out a complicated story, the book misses an opportunity …—Tony Judt
d
: to make lusterless
flatten paint
e
: to stabilize especially at a lower level
a candidate promising to flatten interest rates
: 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
prices flattening out
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
Lightweight and easy to flatten when empty, this packable tote from Bagsmart is a steal for $26 and features tons of pockets for stashing all of your travel essentials.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026
Thirty-two years ago, freeways fell, buildings flattened and local communities were reshaped forever by the earthquake.
—Jamie Yuccas, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
Winter dressing has a way of flattening personal style.
—Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026
Much of the emotional depth of Henry’s book gets flattened in this adaptation that is a tad more focused on the com rather than the rom.
—Shannon Carlin, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flatten
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Cite this Entry
“Flatten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flatten. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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