simple
Easy to understand, do, or use; not complicated.
Word facts
Definition
Something simple is easy to understand, do, or use. A simple thing has few parts, steps, or complications. Simple can also describe a person who is direct and honest without pretense, or something plain without decoration.
Usage: Simple can be positive (a simple solution — clean and effective) or neutral (a simple meal — without frills). Be careful not to use 'simple' in a way that suggests the listener should already understand something that genuinely needs explanation.
Example sentences
- 1
The directions were simple enough that she could follow them without any help.
- 2
A simple apology would have resolved the misunderstanding right away.
- 3
He kept his morning routine simple: wake up, stretch, exercise, and eat breakfast.
Word family
From Old French simple and Latin simplus ('single, plain'), from semel ('once') + -plus ('fold'). The original idea was 'one-fold' — a single layer without layers of complexity.
Simple has 'sim' at the start — think 'sim' as in simulation. The simplest simulation gives you the key idea without all the extra complexity.
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FAQ
Questions people ask
How many syllables does simple have?
Simple has 2 syllables: sim-ple. The stress is on the first syllable.
What is the adverb form of simple?
The adverb form is simply. Example: She explained it simply and clearly.
What is the noun form of simple?
The noun form is simplicity. Example: the elegance of its simplicity.
What does simplify mean?
To simplify means to make something easier or less complicated. Example: Can you simplify this explanation?