cool
cool
Pronunciation
/kuːl/.
cool:
/k/: Voiceless velar stop
/uː/: Close back rounded vowel (long "oo" sound)
/l/: Alveolar lateral approximant
Word Form Variations
I. Adjective:
Positive: cool (e.g., "a cool breeze")
Comparative: cooler (e.g., "the air is cooler today")
Superlative: coolest (e.g., "that's the coolest outfit")
Other adjectival forms: coolish, uncooled, overcool, ultracool, well-cooled
II. Verb:
Base form: cool (e.g., "Let the soup cool.")
Third-person singular present: cools (e.g., "The fan cools the room.")
Past tense: cooled (e.g., "The water cooled quickly.")
Present participle/Gerund: cooling (e.g., "The cooling effect of the breeze," "He's cooling down.")
Past participle: cooled (e.g., "The cooled drink was refreshing.")
Other verbal forms: recool, subcool
III. Noun:
Singular: cool (referring to the quality of being cool, composure, or a cool place/time) (e.g., "the cool of the evening," "keep your cool")
Plural: cools (less common, usually in specific contexts or slang, but technically possible if referring to multiple instances of "coolness" or "cool things")
Derived noun: coolness (e.g., "the coolness of the night")
IV. Adverb:
Standard form: coolly (e.g., "He responded coolly to the accusation.")
Informal/Slang: cool (e.g., "He plays it cool.")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
I. Adjective
Definition: Possessing a moderately low temperature; noticeably but pleasantly chilly, often providing relief from heat.
Synonyms: fresh, brisk, refreshing, crisp, chilly (mildly)
Antonyms: warm, hot, sweltering, scorching, stifling
Definition: Exhibiting a calm, composed, and unruffled demeanor, especially in situations that might typically induce stress, excitement, or fear.
Synonyms: calm, composed, collected, imperturbable, unflappable, serene, laid-back
Antonyms: agitated, anxious, flustered, excitable, panicked, nervous, uptight
Definition: (Informal) Excellent, highly admirable, stylish, or impressive, often evoking a sense of approval, admiration, or trendiness.
Synonyms: awesome, fantastic, great, hip, trendy, stylish, chic, groovy (dated), swell (dated), rad (slang)
Antonyms: uncool, dorky, lame, boring, ordinary, unstylish, unfashionable
Definition: (Informal) Acceptable or satisfactory; indicating approval or agreement.
Synonyms: okay, alright, fine, satisfactory, agreeable, permissible
Antonyms: unacceptable, uncool (in this context), not okay, problematic
Definition: (Of colors) Belonging to the blue, green, or violet spectrum, often associated with water, ice, or tranquility.
Synonyms: muted, subdued (in the context of color temperature), calm, serene
Antonyms: warm (colors), fiery, vibrant (in the context of warm colors)
II. Verb
Definition: To reduce the temperature of something; to make or become less warm.
Synonyms: chill, refrigerate, freeze (more extreme), lower (temperature), refresh
Antonyms: heat, warm, cook, raise (temperature)
Definition: To become less intense or passionate; to calm down or subside, often referring to emotions, arguments, or enthusiasm.
Synonyms: calm (down), settle (down), de-escalate, moderate, subside, abate
Antonyms: intensify, heat up, inflame, escalate, agitate, excite
Definition: (Slang) To relax or take it easy.
Synonyms: chill (out), relax, unwind, decompress, take it easy, loiter (in some contexts)
Antonyms: stress, fret, work, rush, hustle
III. Noun
Definition: The state or quality of being moderately cold; a refreshing low temperature.
Synonyms: chill, freshness, crispness, coolness, low temperature
Antonyms: warmth, heat, hotness, temperature (high)
Definition: Composure, self-control, or a calm, unruffled state of mind, especially under pressure.
Synonyms: composure, equanimity, poise, calm, self-possession, sangfroid, aplomb
Antonyms: agitation, panic, discomposure, anxiety, nervousness, upset
Definition: (Informal) A trendy, admirable, or impressive quality or style; the embodiment of what is currently fashionable or desirable.
Synonyms: hipness, trendiness, style, chic, charisma, appeal, magnetism
Antonyms: uncoolness, dorkiness, lameness, unfashionableness, blandness
IV. Adverb
Definition: In a calm, collected, or composed manner; without agitation or excitement.
Synonyms: calmly, collectedly, composedly, serenely, placidly, unperturbedly
Antonyms: excitedly, anxiously, frantically, nervously, agitatedly
Definition: (Informal) In an excellent, stylish, or satisfactory way. (Often used informally to modify verbs related to performance or appearance).
Synonyms: awesomely, fantastically, greatly, well, superbly, stylishly, smoothly
Antonyms: poorly, badly, awkwardly, unstylishly
Examples of Use
Books
"Atticus said, 'You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view—until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.' Cool." (Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, 1960 - This example uses "cool" informally as an interjection expressing agreement or understanding.)
"The cool air of the early morning felt refreshing on her face as she stepped out onto the porch." (Fictional example, typical of descriptive writing in novels)
"He managed to keep his cool despite the intense questioning from the prosecution." (Fictional example, illustrating "cool" as composure in thrillers or legal dramas)
Newspapers & Online Publications
"Nairobi experiences unseasonably cool temperatures this week, a welcome change for residents." (The Daily Nation - Describes weather conditions.)
"The new startup's office space features an open-plan design and a very cool vibe, attracting top talent." (TechCrunch- Describes atmosphere/style.)
"Analysts advise investors to cool their expectations for rapid returns in the volatile stock market." (The Wall Street Journal - Used as a verb meaning to reduce intensity.)
"A recent poll shows that public opinion has cooled on the proposed infrastructure project." (Reuters- Used as a verb meaning to become less enthusiastic.)
Entertainment Mediums & Platforms
Film: "How cool was that explosion?!" (Dialogue from an action movie, expressing excitement/admiration)
Television Series: "She played it cool during the interrogation, never giving away her true feelings." (From a crime drama, referring to maintaining composure)
Music (Song Lyrics): "You got that something, makes me wanna dance, you're so cool, yeah, you're so cool." (Pop song lyrics, referring to admirable qualities/style)
Video Games: "Your character gains a 'Coolness' stat, which influences your ability to perform stylish maneuvers." (From a game review or in-game description, referring to a quantifiable attribute of style)
Social Media (e.g., Instagram/TikTok caption): "Just finished this hiking trail, the views were so cool! #adventure #nature" (User-generated content, expressing enthusiasm/admiration)
Podcast: "Our guest today gives some really cool insights into the future of AI." (Podcast host introduction, meaning interesting/impressive)
General Public Discourse
"Hey, that's a really cool jacket you're wearing!" (Casual conversation, complimenting an item of clothing)
"Can you cool the drinks down before the party starts?" (Instruction, meaning to chill)
"Let's just cool off and talk about this later when we're both less angry." (Suggestion in a disagreement, meaning to calm down)
"Is it cool if I borrow your car for an hour?" (Asking for permission, meaning acceptable/okay)
"The new restaurant downtown has a very cool vibe, great for a night out." (Describing atmosphere, implying trendy/stylish)
10 Famous Quotes Using Cool
"Stay cool, and don't be a fool!" (Source: Louis Armstrong, often attributed)
"The secret of success is to keep your cool when others are losing theirs." (Source: Anonymous, widely quoted business/life advice)
"I'm not trying to be cool. I'm not trying to be anti-establishment. I'm just trying to be myself." (Source: Natalie Portman, Black Swan interview)
"You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it." "...You must keep it, you must protect it, and you must stay cool." (Source: Robin Williams, in an interview or speech, a slightly longer version of a commonly attributed quote)
"When you're hot, you're hot; when you're not, you're not. When you're cool, you're cool." (Source: Mae West, widely attributed)
"Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground." "And keep your head cool and your heart warm." (Source: Theodore Roosevelt, a common paraphrase/addition to a known quote)
"How cool is that?" (Source: Often used by Steve Jobs during Apple product keynotes)
"My advice to you is to be yourself. Don't try to be too cool or too 'hip.' Just be you." (Source: Oprah Winfrey, from various interviews/speeches)
"Beneath the surface of the cool, rational mind, lie the ancient currents of the subconscious." (Source: Carl Jung, paraphrased from his writings on the psyche)
"The cool thing about being famous is traveling. I have always wanted to travel." (Source: Larry the Cable Guy, from an interview)
Etymology
The word "cool" has a pretty long and interesting journey through the English language!
At its very beginning, in Old English (before 1150 AD), "cool" was used just like we use it today to describe a moderate temperature – something that's neither too hot nor too cold, often in a pleasant way. Imagine a fresh breeze or a nice, shaded spot. It was also used to describe someone as "calm" or "tranquil," so the idea of emotional "coolness" isn't entirely new.
The word itself comes from a much older Proto-Germanic root, which also gave us words like the Dutch "koel" and the German "kühl," all meaning something similar to "cool" or "cold." It also shares a family tree with our word "cold."
Over time, "cool" started to gain more figurative meanings. By the 14th century, it was used to describe something that was "unperturbed" or "not excited by passions," much like we say "keep your cool" today. Shakespeare even used it to mean "rational" or "sensible" in the 16th century.
However, the more modern, informal meaning of "cool" as "excellent," "stylish," or "admirable" really took off much later. This sense started appearing in American English around the 1930s, particularly within African-American jazz culture in the 1940s. Jazz musicians used "cool" to describe a new, more relaxed and self-possessed style of playing and a calm, controlled demeanor. Think of famous jazz artists like Lester Young, who embodied this kind of effortless "cool." This meaning then spread into wider popular culture, becoming a general term of approval that's still incredibly common today.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Cool
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "cool":
Keep your cool: To remain calm and composed in a difficult or stressful situation.
Play it cool: To act in a calm, casual, and detached manner, often to hide one's true feelings or intentions.
Cool as a cucumber: Very calm and collected, even under pressure.
Cool down: To become less angry or agitated; also, to decrease in temperature.
Cool off: Similar to "cool down," implying a reduction in intensity, either emotional or physical.
Cool your jets: (Informal) To calm down; to relax and stop being so excited or angry.
Cool beans: (Informal, often American English) An expression of approval or agreement; great, excellent.
In the cool of the evening/morning: Referring to the time of day when the temperature is pleasantly low.
That's cool: (Informal) An expression of agreement, acceptance, or approval.
Cool hand Luke: A person who remains calm and unflustered in difficult situations (from the 1967 film).
Cool head: A calm and rational mind, especially when making decisions.
Cool customer: A person who is calm, unexcitable, and often shrewd.
To cool one's heels: To be kept waiting for a period of time.
To blow one's cool: To lose one's temper or composure.
A cool million: Exactly one million (often used to emphasize a large, precise sum of money).
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of cool from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
