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mellow out

B2 informal inseparable intransitive
In simple words

Become calmer, more relaxed, and less intense — either right now or over a long time.

Literal meaning: Mellow means soft and ripe — to 'mellow out' suggests becoming fully soft and relaxed, like ripe fruit.

Meanings

1 B2 idiomatic informal

To relax and become less stressed, intense, or aggressive in a given moment.

"You need to mellow out — it's just a game, not the end of the world."

Grammar: inseparable
2 B2 idiomatic informal

To gradually become calmer and more easy-going as a person over a period of time.

"He used to be quite difficult to work with, but he's really mellowed out since he had kids."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Has associations with 1970s counterculture and the effect of cannabis in American English, but is now used more broadly for any kind of relaxation. Can refer to a person's long-term personality change (he mellowed out as he aged) or a short-term mood shift. Also used of music, flavors, and environments becoming softer.

Commonly used with

music age retirement atmosphere person vibe

Forms

Base
mellow out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
mellows out
he/she/it
Past simple
mellowed out
yesterday
Past participle
mellowed out
have + pp
-ing form
mellowing out
continuous

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Synonyms

chill out relax calm down unwind loosen up take it easy

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