dim

[ dim ]
See synonyms for dim on Thesaurus.com
adjective,dim·mer, dim·mest.
  1. not bright; obscure from lack of light or emitted light: a dim room; a dim flashlight.

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

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

  2. not brilliant; dull in luster: a dim color.

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

  4. not seeing clearly: eyes dim with tears.

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

  6. not understanding clearly.

  7. rather stupid; dim-witted.

verb (used with object),dimmed, dim·ming.
  1. to make dim or dimmer.

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

verb (used without object),dimmed, dim·ming.
  1. to become or grow dim or dimmer.

Verb Phrases
  1. 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 about dim

  1. 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

1
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 for dim

Other words from dim

  • dimly, adverb
  • dim·ma·ble, adjective
  • dimness, noun
  • un·dim, adjective
  • un·dim·ly, adverb
  • un·dimmed, adjective

Other definitions for dim. (2 of 3)

dim.1

abbreviation
  1. (in prescriptions) one-half.

Origin of dim.

2
From the Latin word dīmidius

Other definitions for dim. (3 of 3)

dim.2

abbreviation
  1. dimension.

  2. diminish.

  1. diminuendo.

  2. diminutive.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use dim in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dim

dim

/ (dɪm) /


adjectivedimmer or dimmest
  1. badly illuminated: a dim room

  2. not clearly seen; indistinct; faint: a dim shape

  1. having weak or indistinct vision: eyes dim with tears

  2. lacking in understanding; mentally dull

  3. not clear in the mind; obscure: a dim memory

  4. lacking in brilliance, brightness, or lustre: a dim colour

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

verbdims, dimming or dimmed
  1. to become or cause to become dim

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

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

Origin of dim

1
Old English dimm; related to Old Norse dimmr gloomy, dark

Derived forms of dim

  • dimly, adverb
  • dimness, noun

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.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.