simplest
simplest — adjective
- simplestpositive
- more simplestcomparative
- most simplestsuperlative
1. not hard to do, understand, or deal with; taking little effort to figure out or
not hard to do, understand, or deal with; taking little effort to figure out or complete.
The instructions for putting up the tent were short and simple enough for anyone to follow.
simple + enough for [person] to [verb]
Liam showed Heloísa a simple way to open the coconut without tools.
The librarian asked the children a really simple question about the book they had just read.
simple + noun (question / answer / task)
It is not always simple to find a parking spot near the market on Saturday morning.
it + be + simple + to-infinitive
Talia baked a simple cake with just flour, eggs, sugar, and butter.
- simple question
- simple answer
- simple way
- simple process
- quite simple
- very simple
- easy
more general; 'simple' suggests few steps or parts, 'easy' suggests little effort
- straightforward
more formal; emphasises clarity without complications
- clear
focuses on being easy to understand rather than easy to do
- difficult
the most direct opposite across all contexts
- complicated
opposite in the sense of having many interwoven parts
Grammar Patterns
simple + to-infinitive
simple + noun
Common Mistakes
2. used before a noun to emphasise the single most important or basic element of a
used before a noun to emphasise the single most important or basic element of a situation, without extra details or explanations.
The simple truth is that Bilal forgot to set his alarm clock last night.
the simple truth is (that) …
For the simple reason that the road was closed, the school bus took a different route.
the simple reason that …
The simple fact remains that we cannot finish the project by Friday without more help.
the simple fact is / remains that …
The simple reason our train was late is that a tree had fallen across the tracks.
the simple reason (is) that …
The simple fact is that Wei could not afford the rent on his own.
the simple fact is that …
- simple truth
- simple fact
- simple reason
- simple idea
- basic
more neutral; 'simple' adds a tone of 'this is all you need to know'
- plain
overlaps in emphasising lack of added detail, but 'plain' can also mean 'obvious'
- fundamental
more formal and academic
Grammar Patterns
the simple + noun (fact / truth / reason)
Usage Note
This sense almost always appears before the nouns 'truth', 'fact', 'reason', or 'idea'. It emphasises the core of an issue, not an evaluation of difficulty (see sense 1).
Common Mistakes
3. not decorated, not fancy, and without any extra features or ornaments.
not decorated, not fancy, and without any extra features or ornaments.
The couple chose a simple white dress and a plain wooden ring for their wedding.
simple + (colour / material) + noun
Evelyn prefers a simple hairstyle that she can brush in under one minute.
The restaurant serves simple home-cooked meals with no fancy sauces.
simple + food-related noun
A simple wooden bookshelf stood against the wall of the small bedroom.
Imran designed a simple logo with only two colours and no pictures.
simple + design / logo / pattern
- simple dress
- simple design
- simple food
- simple life
- simple style
Grammar Patterns
simple + noun (dress / design / style)
Usage Note
Often describes clothes, food, furniture, design, and architecture. It differs from sense (4) NOT COMPLEX because PLAIN focuses on visual or surface decoration, while NOT COMPLEX focuses on internal structure or arrangement.
4. having only a few parts or steps, without complicated relationships between them
having only a few parts or steps, without complicated relationships between them.
The old clock has a surprisingly simple mechanism with just three wheels.
simple + mechanism / system / structure
The company uses a simple filing system that anyone in the office can understand.
Tuan showed Gabriela a simple method to test whether the battery was still working.
The recipe calls for a simple mix of rice, beans, and vegetables with no rare spices.
simple + mix / combination / blend
A simple sentence like 'The cat sat on the mat' has only one main clause.
- simple structure
- simple system
- simple machine
- simple organism
- uncomplicated
more formal; used especially in medical or technical contexts
- basic
emphasises that something is at the lowest level, not necessarily simple overall
Grammar Patterns
be/remain/seem + simple
simple + noun (structure / system / machine)
Common Mistakes
5. ordinary and traditional, not influenced by modern trends or complicated lifesty
ordinary and traditional, not influenced by modern trends or complicated lifestyles.
The villagers lead a simple life, growing their own food and weaving their own cloth.
simple + life / lifestyle / folk
The Hernandez family chose a simple wedding with just close family and a backyard barbecue.
simple + (event / celebration) — lifestyle choice
The festival celebrates simple country pleasures such as dancing and sharing food.
simple + pleasures / joys
Yusuf enjoys the simple pleasures of gardening and reading under a tree.
simple + pleasures / joys / life
Ayana grew up in a simple farming community where everyone knew each other well.
- simple life
- simple people
- simple pleasures
- simple folk
- humble
emphasises modest social or economic status, not just lack of complexity
- modest
overlaps but more about not showing off wealth or status
- unpretentious
more formal; emphasises lack of desire to impress
- elaborate
opposite in lifestyle — fancy, highly detailed
- extravagant
opposite in the sense of wasteful or showy spending
Grammar Patterns
simple + noun (people / folk / life)
Usage Note
Often carries a positive connotation of authenticity or wholesomeness. Distinguish from sense (3) PLAIN, which describes appearance, whereas this sense describes a way of life or character.
6. old-fashioned term for someone who has limited mental ability or is too trusting
old-fashioned term for someone who has limited mental ability or is too trusting, making them easy to deceive.
The village priest described Mateo as a simple soul who never questioned anything he was told.
simple + soul (dated collocation for naive person)
Charlotte's grandmother was described in old family letters as a simple woman who trusted every travelling merchant that came to the village.
In the 19th-century novel, the simple farmhand could not tell the difference between a silver coin and a brass button.
simple + farmhand / servant / girl (literary usage)
Nikhil played the role of a simple stable boy in the school play, a character who never doubted anyone's word.
The folk tale tells of a simple girl who gave away her family's savings because she believed a stranger's story about a hidden treasure.
- simple soul
- simple mind
- simple person
- naive
overlaps in the sense of lacking experience; less offensive and more common
- simple-minded
a clearer compound form, though still potentially offensive
- unsophisticated
neutral; focuses on lack of worldliness rather than mental ability
- intelligent
the most straightforward opposite
- sophisticated
opposite in the sense of worldly experience
Grammar Patterns
be + simple
simple + noun (person / soul)
Usage Note
This sense is dated and can be offensive when used to describe a living person. Modern alternatives include 'learning disability' or 'intellectual disability'. In older literature it may also mean 'naive' or 'unsophisticated' without a negative judgment.
Common Mistakes
simplest — noun
1. a person from a low social class, especially someone who does not belong to the
a person from a low social class, especially someone who does not belong to the nobility.
In medieval times, a simple could not own land the way a noble could.
historical usage: social class distinction
The old document listed the names of nobles separately from those of the simples.
Historians study what daily life was like for the simples who worked on the farms.
Reuben learned that in ancient Rome a simple had very few legal rights.
The king's law applied to both nobles and simples alike, at least on paper.
- noble
a person of high social rank
- aristocrat
a member of the highest social class
Grammar Patterns
a/the simple + (of ...)
Usage Note
Very rare in modern English; appears mainly in historical writing or translations of classical literature. 'Commoner' is the usual modern term.
2. someone who believes everything they are told without question, making them an e
someone who believes everything they are told without question, making them an easy target for people who want to cheat or trick them.
The con artist looked for simples who would believe any story he told them.
In the play, the simple is the character who gets tricked out of his money every time.
Theo warned his younger cousin not to be a simple and to check the information first.
The villagers took pity on the old simple who had been cheated by the travelling salesman.
After the phone scammer tricked the old man, the whole street said he was a simple for handing over his life savings.
concrete scenario: phone scam (real-world relevance)
- gullible person
modern; emphasises being easily tricked
- naive person
modern; focuses on inexperience rather than lack of intelligence
- sceptic
a person who doubts or questions before believing
Grammar Patterns
a/the simple
Usage Note
Dated or literary. In modern speech, 'naive person' or 'gullible person' is preferred. Only use this noun sense in historical or literary contexts.
3. an old-fashioned and offensive word for someone who lacks basic intelligence or
an old-fashioned and offensive word for someone who lacks basic intelligence or common sense and regularly makes foolish decisions on their own, without being tricked by others.
Hiroshi felt like a simple after he locked his keys inside the car for the third time.
shows lack of common sense, not gullibility
Kemi spent her entire salary on lottery tickets, and her sister called her a simple for wasting money like that.
shows poor judgment, not gullibility
Liam lost his rent money at poker, and his roommate called him a simple for being reckless.
call + [person] + a simple (foolish recklessness)
The landlord called his tenant a simple for signing a lease without reading the fine print.
illustrates lack of judgment, not gullibility
The Nguyễn family's uncle called their cousin a simple for borrowing money at a very high interest rate without reading the contract.
shows poor judgment, not gullibility
Grammar Patterns
a/the simple
Usage Note
Strongly derogatory and archaic. This sense is essentially synonymous with 'simpleton' but even less common. Not used in modern polite conversation.
4. a plant that is used to make medicine or to treat illness, especially in traditi
a plant that is used to make medicine or to treat illness, especially in traditional or herbal remedies.
The old healer gathered simples from the forest to make cough syrup for the children.
historical / herbalist usage
In traditional Chinese medicine, simples like ginseng root are used in many treatments.
The monastery garden grew simples such as chamomile, mint, and lavender for the infirmary.
Before modern pharmacies, people relied on simples to cure common ailments like headaches.
Minh's grandmother taught her which simples to pick for treating a sore throat.
- medicinal plant
the modern standard term
- herb
broader; not all herbs are medicinal
Grammar Patterns
a/the simple
simples
Usage Note
Archaic and specialised. The modern term is 'medicinal plant' or 'herbal remedy'. Most English speakers will not recognise this sense today.
5. in historical medicine, a drug or remedy prepared from a single substance rather
in historical medicine, a drug or remedy prepared from a single substance rather than a mixture of several ingredients.
The apothecary prepared a simple from dried willow bark to reduce the patient's fever.
historical pharmaceutical usage
The old apothecary's journal showed that he made a simple by boiling crushed willow bark to create a fever-reducing drink.
historical apothecary usage: single-plant preparation
The museum displayed jars of simples that doctors used two hundred years ago.
Ziad read in an old book that honey on its own was considered a simple for sore throats.
Some simples were so strong that a single spoonful could make a patient sleep for hours.
- single-drug remedy
a clearer modern phrase, though still technical
Grammar Patterns
a/the simple
Usage Note
Extremely rare; found only in historical or specialist contexts about pre-modern pharmacy. Not used in modern medicine.
6. one individual part or unit that, together with others, makes up a larger whole.
one individual part or unit that, together with others, makes up a larger whole.
The philosopher Leibniz believed the universe is made of tiny indivisible building blocks that he called simples.
philosophical usage: indivisible building blocks
In her philosophy class, Tamar learned that a simple is any object with no smaller parts inside it.
classroom setting: concrete explanation
Tariro's science textbook explained that ancient Greek thinkers considered atoms to be the smallest simples, but today we know atoms can be split into smaller particles.
historical science: atoms as simples
In the 1700s, many chemists believed that earth, air, fire, and water were the four simples from which all matter was made.
historical chemistry: four elements as simples
Mateo's professor compared a simple to a single Lego brick that cannot be broken into smaller pieces.
metaphor: simple like a Lego brick
- compound
something made of multiple simples combined
Grammar Patterns
a/the simple of [something]
Usage Note
Philosophical or technical term meaning an indivisible basic unit. Very rare outside of academic writing on logic, chemistry, or philosophy.
Word family
- simpleadjectiveA2
- simplyadverbB1
- simplicitynounB2
- simplifyverbB1
- simplificationnounC1
- simpleradjectiveA2
- simplisticadjectiveC1
- simpletonnounC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/1
All four words describe something that is not difficult, but they highlight different aspects. 'Easy' is the most general word and focuses on the amount of effort required: a task can be easy even if it has many steps. 'Simple' emphasises having few parts or steps: a simple task is not necessarily easy if those few steps are physically demanding. 'Straightforward' is more formal and suggests that something is clear in sequence or logic, with no hidden complications. 'Clear' focuses on understandability rather than process — a clear explanation may describe a very complex idea. For example, tying your shoelaces is both simple and easy, but solving a two-step algebra problem is simple yet not always easy for a beginner.
Common collocations
Phrases
- in simple terms
- to put it simply
- nice and simple
- keep it simple
Etymology
The word 'simple' entered English from Old French 'simple', which came from Latin 'simplus' meaning 'onefold' or 'single'. The Latin root combines 'sem-' (one, together with) and '-plus' (fold). Its opposite 'complex' comes from Latin 'complexus' (braided together). Over centuries, 'simple' expanded from meaning 'one-fold' into 'plain, not complex, easy', while the noun senses developed separately in botany and social class contexts during the medieval period.
First known use
13th century
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun