simple

Easy to do or understand.

• The task is simple.
• She gave us some simple instructions.
• Is there a simpler way to solve this?

How to use it: simple to do something (This camera is simple to use.)

Similar words: easy, straightforward

Opposites: difficult, complicated

Common phrases: simple task, simple instructions, simple to use

Having few parts or details, without extra decoration or unnecessary features.

• She wore a simple dress.
• We shared a simple meal of bread and soup.
• His designs became simpler over time.

Similar words: basic, plain, uncomplicated

Opposites: elaborate, complex

Common phrases: simple design, simple dress, simple meal, simple life

Describing a verb form that is not continuous, such as 'I work' or 'I worked'.

• Use the simple past here.
• We practiced questions in the simple present.
• Does this sentence need a simple or continuous form?

Opposites: continuous, progressive

Common phrases: simple present, simple past, simple tense

Not very intelligent or able to understand things easily; this description can hurt people's feelings.

• They cruelly called him simple.
• She assumed he was simple because he spoke slowly.
• The villagers mocked the boy as simple.

Similar words: dim, slow, unintelligent

Opposites: intelligent, clever

Common phrases: a little simple, simple person, simple in mind

A medicine made from just one kind of plant.

• The healer prepared a simple.
• This old book lists simples made from local herbs.
• She used a simple rather than a mixture of plants.

Similar words: herbal remedy

Common phrases: herbal simple, prepare a simple, medicinal simple

To gather plants that will be used as medicine.

• The healer went out to simple.
• She simpled in the fields each spring.
• They were simpling for herbs near the stream.

Similar words: gather medicinal herbs

Common phrases: simple for herbs, simple in fields