dim

[ dim ]

/ dɪm /

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See synonyms for dim on Thesaurus.com

adjective, dim·mer, dim·mest.

not bright; obscure from lack of light or emitted light: a dim room; a dim flashlight.

not seen clearly or in detail; indistinct: a dim object in the distance.

not clear to the mind; vague: a dim idea.

not brilliant; dull in luster: a dim color.

not clear or distinct to the senses; faint: a dim sound.

not seeing clearly: eyes dim with tears.

tending to be unfavorable; not likely to happen, succeed, be favorable, etc.: a dim chance of winning.

not understanding clearly.

rather stupid; dim-witted.

verb (used with object), dimmed, dim·ming.

to make dim or dimmer.

to switch (the headlights of a vehicle) from the high to the low beam.

verb (used without object), dimmed, dim·ming.

to become or grow dim or dimmer.

Verb Phrases

dim out, (in wartime) to reduce the night illumination of (a city, ship, etc.) to make it less visible from the air or sea, as a protection from enemy aircraft or ships.

OTHER WORDS FOR dim

3 unclear, faint, indefinite, indistinct, fuzzy, hazy.

10 darken, cloud.

12 dull, fade.

See synonyms for dim on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about dim

take a dim view of, to regard with disapproval, skepticism, or dismay: Her mother takes a dim view of her choice of friends.

Origin of dim

before 1000; Middle English, Old English dim(me), cognate with Old Frisian dim,Old Norse dimmr

synonym study for dim

1. See dark.

OTHER WORDS FROM dim

dimly, adverbdim·ma·ble, adjectivedimness, nounun·dim, adjective

un·dim·ly, adverbun·dimmed, adjective

Other definitions for dim (2 of 3)

dim.¹

abbreviation

(in prescriptions) one-half.

Origin of dim.

From the Latin word dīmidius

Other definitions for dim (3 of 3)

dim.²

abbreviation

dimension.

diminish.

diminuendo.

diminutive.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use dim in a sentence

Justin gazed out from the dim interior as more than 300 police motorcycles from dozens of jurisdictions rumbled past.
Choking Back Tears, Thousands of Cops Honor Fallen Officer Ramos|Michael Daly|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The essential fault lies not with the stars around him, however dim, but with himself.
Before Ditching His Top Aides, Obama Should Look in the Mirror|Leslie H. Gelb|November 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Below, the thick marshland and dim lights created a scene that Breman describes as “Joseph Conrad territory.”
The Original Ebola Hunter|Abby Haglage|September 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In a dim backroom of a mud hut in Save, 82-year-old Teresa Nyirabutunda sits propped upright in bed by her daughter, Francine.
After the Genocide, Rwanda’s Widows Aging Alone|Nina Strochlic|August 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST

My concerns about the study do not dim my admiration for the fund itself or the work that it does.
How to Tell When a Scientific Study Is Total B.S.|Russell Saunders|August 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She opened the letter by the flickering firelight, which was stronger on the hearthrug than the light of the dim November day.
Hilda Lessways|Arnold Bennett
Dr. Ashton walked out of the chapel, and Val stood for a few moments where he was, looking up and down in the dim light.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
Any moment, if he looked up, he would meet eyes—eyes that gazed with dim yet definite recognition into his own across the night.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood
The contrast between the open street and the enclosed stuffiness of the dim and crowded interior was overwhelming.
Hilda Lessways|Arnold Bennett
By the dim light of the campfire they saw what they supposed were the sleeping forms of their enemies.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn

British Dictionary definitions for dim

dim

/ (dɪm) /

adjective dimmer or dimmest

badly illuminateda dim room

not clearly seen; indistinct; fainta dim shape

having weak or indistinct visioneyes dim with tears

lacking in understanding; mentally dull

not clear in the mind; obscurea dim memory

lacking in brilliance, brightness, or lustrea dim colour

tending to be unfavourable; gloomy or disapproving (esp in the phrase take a dim view)

verb dims, dimming or dimmed

to become or cause to become dim

(tr) to cause to seem less bright, as by comparison

US and Canadian (tr) to switch (car headlights) from the main to the lower beamAlso called (in Britain and certain other countries): dip

Derived forms of dim

dimly, adverbdimness, noun

Word Origin for dim

Old English dimm; related to Old Norse dimmr gloomy, dark

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with dim

dim

see take a dim view.