low
1 Americanadjective
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lower,
comparative
-
lowest
superlative
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situated, placed, or occurring not far above the ground, floor, or base.
a low shelf.
- Antonyms:
- high
-
of small extent upward; not high or tall.
A low wall surrounds the property.
- Antonyms:
- high
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not far above the horizon, as a planet.
The moon was low in the sky.
- Antonyms:
- high
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lying or being below the general level.
low ground.
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designating or pertaining to regions near sea level, especially near the sea.
low countries.
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bending or passing far downward; deep.
a low bow.
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(of a garment) low-necked; décolleté.
The dress she wore was fashionably low.
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rising but slightly from a surface.
a low relief on a frieze.
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of less than average or normal height or depth, as a liquid or stream.
The river is low this time of year.
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near the first of a series.
a low number.
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ranked near the beginning or bottom on some scale of measurement.
a low income bracket.
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indicating the bottom or the point farthest down.
the low point in his creative life.
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lacking in strength, energy, or vigor; feeble; weak.
to feel low and listless.
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providing little nourishment or strength, as a diet.
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of small number, amount, degree, force, intensity, etc..
low visibility;
a generator with a low output.
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indicated or represented by a low number.
A low latitude is one relatively near the equator.
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soft: subdued; not loud.
a low murmur.
- Synonyms:
- quiet
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Music. produced by relatively slow vibrations, as sounds; grave in pitch.
- Synonyms:
- deep
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assigning or attributing little worth, value, excellence, or the like.
a low estimate of a new book.
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containing a relatively small amount.
a diet low in starches.
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nearing depletion; not adequately supplied.
low on funds;
Our stock of towels is low.
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depressed or dejected.
low spirits.
- Synonyms:
- sad, unhappy, dispirited
-
far down in the scale of rank or estimation; humble.
of low birth.
- Synonyms:
- obscure, insignificant, lowly
-
of inferior quality or character.
a low grade of fabric;
a low type of intellect.
-
lacking in dignity or elevation, as of thought or expression.
-
mean, base, or disreputable.
low tricks;
low companions.
-
coarse or vulgar.
entertainment of a low sort.
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Boxing. struck or delivered below a contestant's belt.
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Biology. having a relatively simple structure; not complex in organization.
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Phonetics. (of a vowel) articulated with a relatively large opening above the tongue, as the vowels of hat, hut, hot, ought, etc.
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Automotive. of, relating to, or operating at the gear transmission ratio at which the drive shaft moves at the lowest speed with relation to the speed of the engine crankshaft, used especially for temporarily overcoming the weight or inertia of the vehicle; first.
low gear.
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Baseball. (of a pitched ball) passing the plate at a level below that of the batter's knees.
a low curve.
-
Cards. having less value than other cards.
a low card.
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Metallurgy. having a relatively small amount of a specified constituent (usually used in combination).
low-carbon steel.
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Chiefly British. holding to Low Church principles and practices.
adverb
-
in or to a low position, point, degree, etc..
The raiders crouched low in the bushes.
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near the ground, floor, or base; not aloft.
The plane flew low.
-
in or to a humble or abject state.
Some live low while others live high.
She swore she would bring him low.
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in or to a condition of depletion, prostration, or death.
The gas in the tank is running low.
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at comparatively small cost; cheaply.
to buy something low and sell it high.
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at or to a low pitch, volume, intensity, etc..
to turn the radio low;
ights turned down low.
-
in a low tone; softly: quietly.
to speak low.
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Archaic. far down in time; late.
noun
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something that is low, as ground or prices.
numerous marshy lows in the forest;
the recent low in the stock market.
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Automotive. low gear; first gear.
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Meteorology. an atmospheric low-pressure system; cyclone.
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Cards.
-
the lowest trump card.
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a card of small value, or of lower value than other cards.
-
the lowest score in a game.
-
a player having such a score.
-
-
a point of deepest decline, vulgarity, etc..
a new low in tastelessness.
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Slang. a period of intense depression or discomfort, when the effects of a drug have subsided.
idioms
-
lie low,
-
to conceal oneself.
He had to lie low for a while.
-
to do nothing until the right opportunity develops; bide one's time.
Until the dispute is settled, you would do best to lie low.
-
-
lay low,
-
to overpower or kill; defeat.
to lay one's attackers low.
-
to knock down; make prostrate.
-
Informal. to lie low.
-
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
noun
verb (used without object)
-
to burn; blaze.
-
(of a person) to feel strong emotions; glow with excitement.
noun
-
David, 1891–1963, English political cartoonist, born in New Zealand.
-
Juliette, 1860–1927, founder of Girl Scouts in the U.S.
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Seth, 1850–1916, U.S. political reformer, educator, and politician.
adjective
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having a relatively small distance from base to top; not tall or high
a low hill
a low building
-
-
situated at a relatively short distance above the ground, sea level, the horizon, or other reference position
low cloud
-
( in combination )
low-lying
-
-
-
involving or containing a relatively small amount of something
a low supply
-
( in combination )
low-pressure
-
-
-
having little value or quality
-
( in combination )
low-grade
-
-
of less than the usual or expected height, depth, or degree
low temperature
-
-
(of numbers) small
-
(of measurements) expressed in small numbers
-
-
unfavourable
a low opinion
-
not advanced in evolution
a low form of plant life
-
deep
a low obeisance
-
coarse or vulgar
a low conversation
-
-
inferior in culture or status
-
( in combination )
low-class
-
-
in a physically or mentally depressed or weakened state
-
designed so as to reveal the wearer's neck and part of the bosom
a low neckline
-
with a hushed tone; quiet or soft
a low whisper
-
of relatively small price or monetary value
low cost
-
music relating to or characterized by a relatively low pitch
-
(of latitudes) situated not far north or south of the equator
-
having little or no money
-
abject or servile
-
phonetics of, relating to, or denoting a vowel whose articulation is produced by moving the back of the tongue away from the soft palate or the blade away from the hard palate, such as for the a in English father Compare high
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(of a gear) providing a relatively low forward speed for a given engine speed
-
(usually capital) of or relating to the Low Church
adverb
-
in a low position, level, degree, intensity, etc
to bring someone low
-
at a low pitch; deep
to sing low
-
at a low price; cheaply
to buy low
-
-
to cause to fall by a blow
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to overcome, defeat or destroy
-
-
-
to keep or be concealed or quiet
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to wait for a favourable opportunity
-
noun
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a low position, level, or degree
an all-time low
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an area of relatively low atmospheric pressure, esp a depression
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electronics the voltage level in a logic circuit corresponding to logical zero Compare high
noun
verb
noun
Synonym Usage
See mean 2.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of low1
First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English lou(e), loh(e) (adjective and noun), earlier lāh, from Old Norse lāgr (adjective) “low, low down”; cognate with Old Frisian lēge, lēch, Dutch laag, Old High German laege; akin to lie 2
Origin of low2
First recorded before 1000; Middle English lowen, Old English hlōwan; cognate with Dutch loeien, Old High German hluoen, Old Saxon hlōian; akin to Old Norse Hlōi a proper name (literally, “bellower, shouter”), Latin clāmāre “to call out”
Origin of low3
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old Norse loga “to flame,” log “a flame,” akin to German lohen (verb), Lohe (noun), Latin lūcēre (verb), lūx (noun) “light”; see also light 1
Explanation
When you travel through a low tunnel, you might be tempted to duck your head. Something that's low is short or shallow. Things that are less than usual can be described with the adjective low. You might be low on gas in your car, for example, or wake up with a low amount of energy. A low ceiling can be dangerous for a very tall person, and a low voice can barely be heard. You can also talk about a gloomy mood as being low. And when cows moo, whether they're feeling low or not, you can cay that they low.
Vocabulary lists containing low
Christmas Carol Vocab: A Lyrical Lexicon
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Earlier in the day, Kryvyi Rih Mayor Oleksandr Vilkul said the Russian drones were flying at "extremely low altitudes", describing the attackers as "animals".
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
Silenskyte said it’s important to remember that spotting a market bottom is tough and buying opportunities often emerge earlier when sentiment is low and prices have had a reset, but fundamentals point toward recovery.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026
Bitcoin’s rise comes as the DXY dollar index falls 0.2% to 98.798, staying just shy of Thursday’s three-month low of 98.557.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
Even the NBA Finals ratings during the COVID-19 pandemic were at an all-time low, averaging just 7.45 million viewers for the Lakers’ six-game, bubble series win over the Miami Heat.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
I heard Henk and Meta come in, then Eusie’s laugh as he handed the day things out to the others through the low door.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
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Low investor conviction could leave long-dated Treasury yields under sustained pressure, TD Securities’ rates strategists Gennadiy Goldberg and Molly Brooks said in a note.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
Low water levels in Germany caused by recent heatwaves, particularly on the River Rhine, are likely to temporarily impede the country’s economic growth, the Bundesbank said Thursday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
Low levels of physical activity among adolescents remain a significant public health concern.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026
"I was so angry and so sad at the same time," says his brother Douglas Low.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
And he served the people of Low Torning as healall and weatherworker whenever they asked him.
From "A Wizard of Earthsea" by Ursula K. Le Guin
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Once the public comes to expect higher inflation, wages and prices can adjust so that stimulative policies no longer raise output or lower unemployment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
Long-term borrowing costs in the US rose again despite an announcement from the government that it would intervene to try to lower them.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
The president said the move will “substantially lower the price of ground beef for working American families.”
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026
After those factors were considered, receiving an invitation to screening was associated with a 26 percent lower risk of dying from colorectal cancer.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 21, 2026
I need her to say something again, in a lower register, so I can listen more carefully.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
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It’s condescending and hacky and the humor always aims for the lowest common denominator.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
The US cattle herd has shrunk to its lowest level since the 1950s -- in part due to drought and international competition -- with the diminishing herd size pushing cattle prices higher.
From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026
It marks the lowest growth since its fourth quarter of the financial year 2020 — which covered the three months ended January 31, 2020 — when sales increased by 1.9%.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 20, 2026
Food and housing prices have climbed while incomes, adjusted for the cost of living, are among the lowest in the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
"Good man. Eight pesetas for the two. The lowest price."
From "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway
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“People see me on the court and they’re like,” he said, then lowed his voice to a whisper, “’Oh, my God!
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 21, 2022
The SCA later lowed its demand to $550m, but the owners and insurers reportedly offered to pay $150m.
From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2021
They fed us lentils cooked in onion and garlic and thin milk from the water buffalo that lowed outside.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2020
Charlie’s mother fol- lowed his voice to the kitchen, where she let him know that she and Charlie were home playing cards.
From MSNBC ● Oct. 22, 2014
It was Europa he drew toward, and as she gently touched him, he lowed so musically, no flute could give forth a more melodious sound.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
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Entering Sphere, the escalators are tinted sepia and the soundscape hums with birdsong and lowing cattle.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2025
You can hear a gentle lowing of cows.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2022
From its opening lonely trumpet, it gathers and gains; a lowing cello calls, and the orchestra responds.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 20, 2022
Behind us, the skyline of Atlanta hidden by the photographer’s backdrop — a lush pasture, green, full of soft-eyed cows lowing, a chant that sounds like no, no.
From New York Times ● Nov. 13, 2018
The cow, standing before the closed door, kept lifting her head, stretching, and lowing.
From "The Fighting Ground" by Avi
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.