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flatten out

B1 neutral separable both
In simple words

To make something go from bumpy or curved to totally flat, or when growth stops and things stay the same.

Literal meaning: To extend flat outward — transparent for the physical sense, slightly idiomatic for the trend/economic sense.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To make a physical surface level and free of bumps or curves.

"Use a rolling pin to flatten out the dough into a thin sheet."

Grammar: separable
2 B2 idiomatic neutral

To stop increasing or decreasing and remain at a steady level (of rates, trends, or curves).

"Inflation has begun to flatten out after months of sharp rises."

Grammar: inseparable
3 B2 idiomatic informal

To lose energy or momentum; to become dull or less effective.

"The team's performance flattened out in the second half of the season."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Very common in finance, economics, and science to describe a curve or trend reaching a plateau. Also used literally in cooking and construction.

Commonly used with

curve growth inflation dough road terrain

Forms

Base
flatten out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
flattens out
he/she/it
Past simple
flattened out
yesterday
Past participle
flattened out
have + pp
-ing form
flattening out
continuous

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