simple

[ sim-puhl ]

adjective

, sim·pler, sim·plest.

1. easy to understand, deal with, use, etc.: simple tools.

   a simple matter;

   simple tools.

   Synonyms: lucid, unmistakable, understandable, intelligible, clear

2. not elaborate or artificial; plain:

   a simple style.

   Synonyms: unembellished, neat, natural

3. not ornate or luxurious; unadorned:

   a simple gown.

4. unaffected; unassuming; modest:

   a simple manner.

5. not complicated:

   a simple design.

6. not complex or compound; single
7. occurring or considered alone; mere; bare:

   the simple truth;

   a simple fact.

8. free of deceit or guile; sincere; unconditional:

   a frank, simple answer.

   Synonyms: ingenuous, guileless, artless

9. common or ordinary:

   a simple soldier.

10. not grand or sophisticated; unpretentious:

    a simple way of life.

11. humble or lowly:

    simple folk.

12. inconsequential or rudimentary.

    Synonyms: nonessential, trivial, trifling, unnecessary

13. unlearned; ignorant.

    Synonyms: stupid, untutored

14. lacking mental acuteness or sense:

    a simple way of thinking.

15. unsophisticated; naive; credulous.
16. simpleminded.
17. Chemistry.
    1. composed of only one substance or element:

       a simple substance.

    2. not mixed.
18. Botany. not divided into parts: a simple stem.

    a simple leaf;

    a simple stem.

19. Zoology. not compound:

    a simple ascidian.

20. Music. uncompounded or without overtones; single:

    simple tone.

21. Grammar. having only the head without modifying elements included: Compare complete ( def 5 ).

    The simple subject of “The dappled pony gazed over the fence” is “pony.”

22. (of a verb tense) consisting of a main verb with no auxiliaries, as takes (simple present) or stood (simple past) ( compound ).
23. Mathematics. linear ( def 8 ).
24. Optics. (of a lens) having two optical surfaces only.

noun

1. an ignorant, foolish, or gullible person.
2. something simple, unmixed, or uncompounded.
3. simples, Textiles. cords for controlling the warp threads in forming the shed on draw-looms.
4. a person of humble origins; commoner.
5. an herb or other plant used for medicinal purposes:

   country simples.

simple

/ ˈsɪmpəl /

adjective

1. not involved or complicated; easy to understand or do

   a simple problem

2. plain; unadorned

   a simple dress

3. consisting of one element or part only; not combined or complex

   a simple mechanism

4. unaffected or unpretentious

   although he became famous, he remained a simple and well-liked man

5. not guileful; sincere; frank

   her simple explanation was readily accepted

6. of humble condition or rank

   the peasant was of simple birth

7. weak in intelligence; feeble-minded
8. prenominal without additions or modifications; mere

   the witness told the simple truth

9. prenomina ordinary or straightforward

   a simple case of mumps

10. chem (of a substance or material) consisting of only one chemical compound rather than a mixture of compounds
11. maths
    1. (of a fraction) containing only integers
    2. (of an equation) containing variables to the first power only; linear
    3. (of a root of an equation) occurring only once; not multiple
12. biology
    1. not divided into parts

       a simple eye

       a simple leaf

    2. formed from only one ovary

       simple fruit

13. music relating to or denoting a time where the number of beats per bar may be two, three, or four

noun

1. a simpleton; fool
2. a plant, esp a herbaceous plant, having medicinal properties

Confusables Note

See simplistic.

Derived Forms

• ˈsimpleness, noun

Other Words From

• simple·ness noun
• over·simple adjective
• over·simple·ness noun
• over·simp·ly adverb
• sub·simple adjective
• ultra·simple adjective
• un·simple adjective
• un·simple·ness noun
• un·simp·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of simple¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English adjective simple, simpel(le), from Old French simple, sinple, from Latin simplus “simple” (in simpla pecunia “simple fee or sum”), equivalent to sim- “one” + -plus, as in duplus “double”; Middle English noun “commoner,” derivative of the adjective; simplex, duple, double; -fold; cognate with Greek háplos ( haplo- );

Word History and Origins

Origin of simple¹

C13: via Old French from Latin simplex plain

Idioms and Phrases

see pure and simple .

Synonym Study

See homely.

Example Sentences

This will cost a little extra money, but there are several simple after-market modifications you can make to get the most out of your new 4x4.

From Popular-Science

At Stanford, they were focused mostly on ethanol and methanol, which are simple liquid alcohols.

From TechCrunch

You can take some simple steps now to make the voting process smoother.

From ProPublica

So we felt that during a pandemic, the simplest version of a vaccine is the one that could reach billions of doses.

From MIT Technology Review

Based on The Wall Street Journal’s reporting, it seems that Oracle may simple serve as the warehouse for TikTok’s domestic user data.

From Digiday

The simple, awful truth is that free speech has never been particularly popular in America.

From The Daily Beast

The reason pilots would choose to use guns over a bomb or a missile is simple.

From The Daily Beast

Still, I worry that a simple traffic stop could have tragic consequences.

From The Daily Beast

“It is the hardest to play,” one of the buglers says of this seemingly simple tune.

From The Daily Beast

The premise was simple: satire is devastating against tyrants.

From The Daily Beast

Smith's method usually gives good results, as does also the more simple method of Hiss (p. 263).

From Project Gutenberg

It was a mighty simple transaction, but it produced some startling results for me, that same coin-spinning.

From Project Gutenberg

Let us look over these points again, and make the matter still clearer and more simple.

From Project Gutenberg

If I selected lucid and simple extracts, they would give no idea of the intricacy and prolixity of Duns.

From Project Gutenberg

It has long since dismissed as too short and simple for its pages, the short and simple annals of the poor.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• clean
• elementary
• plain
• quiet
• smooth
• straightforward
• transparent
• uncomplicated

More About Simple

What is a basic definition of simple?

Simple describes something as being easy to understand or do, as being plain or not elaborate, or as being ordinary or common. The word simple has many other senses as an adjective and a noun.

If something is simple, it involves little challenge or will be really easy. For example, counting to five is a simple task for most adults. Spoons and forks are simple eating tools, without any complex parts. In this sense, simple is a synonym of words such as easy and uncomplicated.

Real-life examples: Young students start with simple subjects, such as addition, before learning harder ones, such as multiplication. An untied shoelace is a simple problem to solve for most adults. Most young people find using a computer to be really simple.

Used in a sentence: I made dinner with a simple recipe designed for new cooks. 

Another sense of simple describes something as being plain and lacking flourishes or embellishments. For example, a simple shirt may be plain grey or white and not have any designs or logos on it.

Used in a sentence: She wore a simple dress to the birthday party, with no bows or ruffles.  

Simple can also describe something as being ordinary, mundane, or humble.

Real-life examples: Most pets lead simple lives of eating and sleeping. Some couples have simple weddings with no band, fireworks, or colorful decorations. A simple job is one you can do without thinking hard.

Used in a sentence: After winning the championship, I retired to live a simple life as a farmer.

Where does simple come from?

The first records of simple come from around 1175. It ultimately comes from the Latin simplex, meaning “plain.”

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to simple?

• simply (adverb)
• simpleness (noun)
• oversimple (adjective)
• oversimpleness (noun)
• oversimply (adverb)
• subsimple (adjective)
• ultrasimple (adjective)
• unsimple (adjective)
• unsimpleness (noun)
• unsimply (adverb)

What are some synonyms for simple?

• easy
• elementary
• plain
• modest
• rustic

What are some words that share a root or word element with simple? 

• simplify
• simplistic
• simple sentence
• pure and simple

What are some words that often get used in discussing simple?

• difficulty
• challenge
• life
• job
• task
• things

How is simple used in real life?

Simple is a very common word that most often describes something as easy.

Avoid overthinking, overanalyzing, and complicating things. Keep everything simple. Life is much more beautiful and enjoyable this way.

— KeepTheFaith EP Out Now (@OskidoIBelieve) December 23, 2020

Today I had my first conversation with my two year old. I asked him some yes or no questions and he answered me. It was really simple but felt huge.

— Weenietowne (@Weenietowne) December 26, 2020

Idk if I want a big Mexican wedding or just a simple wedding 🙃

— Jocelynne Lujan🥀 (@jocelynnelujan) December 29, 2020

 

 

Try using simple!

Which of the following is most likely to be described as being simple?

A. flying to the moon
B. brushing your teeth
C. climbing the world’s tallest mountain
D. learning 10 new languages