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.
Idioms
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 Englishdim(me), cognate with Old Frisiandim,Old Norsedimmr
Related formsdim·ly, adverbdim·ma·ble, adjectivedim·ness, nounun·dim, adjectiveun·dim·ly, adverbun·dimmed, adjective
c.1200, perhaps in Old English, from dim (adj.). Related: Dimmed; dimming.
dim
adj.
Old English dimm "dark, gloomy, obscure," from Proto-Germanic *dimbaz (cf. Old Norse dimmr, Old Frisian dim, Old High German timber "dark, black, somber"). Not known outside Germanic. Slang sense of "stupid" is from 1892. Related: Dimly; dimness.
