low
1situated, placed, or occurring not far above the ground, floor, or base: a low shelf.
of small extent upward; not high or tall: A low wall surrounds the property.
not far above the horizon, as a planet: The moon was low in the sky.
lying or being below the general level: low ground.
designating or pertaining to regions near sea level, especially near the sea: low countries.
bending or passing far downward; deep: a low bow.
(of a garment) low-necked; décolleté: The dress she wore was fashionably low.
rising but slightly from a surface: a low relief on a frieze.
of less than average or normal height or depth, as a liquid or stream: The river is low this time of year.
near the first of a series: a low number.
ranked near the beginning or bottom on some scale of measurement: a low income bracket.
indicating the bottom or the point farthest down: the low point in his creative life.
providing little nourishment or strength, as a diet.
of small number, amount, degree, force, intensity, etc.: low visibility; a generator with a low output.
indicated or represented by a low number: A low latitude is one relatively near the equator.
soft: subdued; not loud: a low murmur.
Music. produced by relatively slow vibrations, as sounds; grave in pitch.
assigning or attributing little worth, value, excellence, or the like: a low estimate of a new book.
containing a relatively small amount: a diet low in starches.
nearing depletion; not adequately supplied: low on funds; Our stock of towels is low.
depressed or dejected: low spirits.
far down in the scale of rank or estimation; humble: of low birth.
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.
Boxing. struck or delivered below a contestant's belt.
Biology. having a relatively simple structure; not complex in organization.
Phonetics. (of a vowel) articulated with a relatively large opening above the tongue, as the vowels of hat, hut, hot, ought, etc.: Compare high (def. 23).
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.
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.
Metallurgy. having a relatively small amount of a specified constituent (usually used in combination): low-carbon steel.
Chiefly British. holding to Low Church principles and practices.
in or to a low position, point, degree, etc.: The raiders crouched low in the bushes.
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.
in or to a condition of depletion, prostration, or death: The gas in the tank is running low.
at comparatively small cost; cheaply: to buy something low and sell it high.
at or to a low pitch, volume, intensity, etc.: to turn the radio low; lights turned down low.
Archaic. far down in time; late.
something that is low, as ground or prices: numerous marshy lows in the forest; the recent low in the stock market.
Automotive. low gear; first gear.
Meteorology. an atmospheric low-pressure system; cyclone. : Compare high (def. 37).
Cards.
the lowest trump card.
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.
Slang. a period of intense depression or discomfort, when the effects of a drug have subsided.
Idioms about low
lay low,
to overpower or kill; defeat: to lay one's attackers low.
to knock down; make prostrate.
Informal. to lie low.
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.
Origin of low
1synonym study For low
Other words for low
Opposites for low
Other words from low
- lowish, adjective
- lowness, noun
- o·ver·low·ness, noun
Words that may be confused with low
- low , lowly
Other definitions for low (2 of 4)
to utter the deep, low sound characteristic of cattle; moo.
to utter by or as by lowing.
the act or the sound of lowing: the low of a distant herd.
Origin of low
2Other definitions for low (3 of 4)
or lowe
to burn; blaze.
(of a person) to feel strong emotions; glow with excitement.
Origin of low
3Other definitions for Low (4 of 4)
David, 1891–1963, English political cartoonist, born in New Zealand.
Juliette, 1860–1927, founder of Girl Scouts in the U.S.
Seth, 1850–1916, U.S. political reformer, educator, and politician.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use low in a sentence
If they haven’t yet, it’s a very low-cost thing that everyone can do.
Aquaphor’s Healing Ointment is a great low-budget solution both to prevent and treat the whiplash from wintry winds.
The hottest gifts to buy for the friend who’s always cold | Sandra Gutierrez G. | November 20, 2020 | Popular-ScienceReduce the heat to medium-low, stir in the onion mixture and cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has cooked away and the ghee has started pooling in spots, 10 to 15 minutes.
How to make dal makhani, the most luxurious and creamy dal of all | Joe Yonan | November 20, 2020 | Washington PostHighs in the low and mid-60s are a good five-plus degrees warmer than normal for the date.
PM Update: Warmth persists through Saturday before a cooler and cloudier Sunday | Ian Livingston | November 20, 2020 | Washington PostIn particular, rice has evolved over the course of Nigeria’s history from being a luxury staple to being eaten across low and high-income households.
The spiking cost of Nigeria’s favorite dish captures an ongoing food crisis | Yomi Kazeem | November 20, 2020 | Quartz
Early yesterday I heard something really heavy and a deep, loud lowing.
The lowing of cattle and the soft stumbling tread of many unshod feet told him that some one was approaching.
The Red Year | Louis TracyThree sounds of increase: the lowing of a cow in milk; the din of a smithy; the swish of a plough.
Ancient Irish Poetry | VariousThe whole air of the place was that of almost pastoral quietness, and the only sound to be heard was the lowing of oxen.
The Relief of Mafeking | Filson YoungNow pours forth the evening concert from the woods, while warbling brooks, and lowing herds, appear to answer to the sound.
The Rain Cloud | AnonymousOxen were lowing, sheep bleating, as they stood in droves herded together for sacrifice.
Sarchedon | G. J. (George John) Whyte-Melville
British Dictionary definitions for low (1 of 3)
/ (ləʊ) /
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 (def. 22)
(of a gear) providing a relatively low forward speed for a given engine speed
(usually capital) of or relating to the Low Church
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
lay low
to cause to fall by a blow
to overcome, defeat or destroy
lie low
to keep or be concealed or quiet
to wait for a favourable opportunity
a low position, level, or degree: an all-time low
an area of relatively low atmospheric pressure, esp a depression
electronics the voltage level in a logic circuit corresponding to logical zero: Compare high (def. 40)
Origin of low
1Derived forms of low
- lowness, noun
British Dictionary definitions for low (2 of 3)
/ (ləʊ) /
the sound uttered by cattle; moo
to make or express by a low or moo
Origin of low
2British Dictionary definitions for Low (3 of 3)
/ (ləʊ) /
Sir David. 1891–1963, British political cartoonist, born in New Zealand: created Colonel Blimp: See blimp 2
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 low
In addition to the idioms beginning with low
- low blow
- low boiling point
- low man on the totem pole
- low profile
also see:
- at a low ebb
- (low) boiling point
- high and low
- keep a low profile
- lay someone low
- lie low
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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