slim

[slim]

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adjective, slim·mer, slim·mest.

slender, as in girth or form; slight in build or structure.

poor or inferior: a slim chance; a slim excuse.

small or inconsiderable; meager; scanty: a slim income.

sized for the thinner than average person.

verb (used with object), slimmed, slim·ming.

to make slim.

verb (used without object), slimmed, slim·ming.

to become slim.

Chiefly British. to try to become more slender, especially by dieting.

noun

a garment size meant for a thin person.

Verb Phrases

slim down,

to lose weight, especially intentionally.
(of a business) to reduce operating expenses; economize.

RELATED WORDS

reduce, diet, slenderize

Nearby words

Origin of slim

1650–60; < Dutch slim sly, (earlier) crooked (cognate with German schlimm bad, (earlier) crooked)

SYNONYMS FOR slim

1. thin. See slender. 3. insignificant, trifling, trivial, paltry.

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ANTONYMS FOR slim

1. fat. 3. considerable; abundant.

SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR slim ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

slim·ly, adverbslim·ness, nounun·slim, adjectiveun·slim·ly, adverb

un·slim·ness, nounun·slimmed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for slim

Slim turned Bush down, and Lehman filed for bankruptcy in September 2008, just weeks before the presidential election.
Bush, Christie, Romney: Who’ll Be the GOP Class Warrior?|Lloyd Green|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was slim, about “fifty to sixty pages,” according to Bradlee, and mostly concerned with her paintings.
The Bizarre Tale of Ben Bradlee, JFK, and the Master Spy|Will Rahn|October 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For months, first term Democratic incumbent Kay Hagan has managed to cling to slim lead that has defied national factors.
In Tarheel State, Democratic Senate Incumbent Bucks National GOP Trend|Ben Jacobs|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Stangneth probes his affairs in Argentina, including with Ingrid von Ihne, “tall, blond, and slim, with a cold beauty.”
Nothing Was Banal About Eichmann’s Evil, Says a Scathing New Biography|Michael Signer|October 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Schools are more than happy to help players bulk up but nothing is done to help them slim down after the cleats get hung up.
College Football Fattens Players Up and Then Abandons Them|Evin Demirel|October 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His tall, straight form, erect and slim, swung toward them over the ice.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science February 1930|Various
Then, out into view beneath me, was thrust a slim ivory hand which held an electric pocket lamp.
Tales of Secret Egypt|Sax Rohmer
O'Reilly took her by the hand, and with an arm round the slim waist raised the girl to her feet.
The Lion's Mouse|C. N. Williamson and A. M. Williamson
This was understood between them before they left Meadows, but the plan did not work out because Slim failed to do his part.
The Man from the Bitter Roots|Caroline Lockhart
She was in pearl gray, no powder, no mustache, slim as a reed.
Jane Journeys On|Ruth Comfort Mitchell

British Dictionary definitions for slim

slim

adjective slimmer or slimmest

small in width relative to height or length

small in amount or qualityslim chances of success

verb slims, slimming or slimmed

to make or become slim, esp by diets and exercise

to reduce or decrease or cause to be reduced or decreased

Word Origin for slim

C17: from Dutch: crafty, from Middle Dutch slimp slanting; compare Old High German slimbi obliquity

Slim

noun

the E African name for AIDS

Word Origin for Slim

from its wasting effects

Slim

noun

William Joseph, 1st Viscount. 1891–1970, British field marshal, who commanded (1943–45) the 14th Army in the reconquest of Burma (now called Myanmar) from the Japanese; governor general of Australia (1953–60)

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

Word Origin and History for slim

slim

adj.

1650s, "thin, slight, slender," from Dutch slim "bad, sly, clever," from Middle Dutch slim "bad, crooked," from Proto-Germanic *slembaz "oblique, crooked" (cf. Middle High German slimp "slanting, awry," German schlimm "bad, cunning, unwell"). In English 17c. also sometimes with a sense "sly, cunning, crafty." Related: Slimly; slimness. With obsolete extended adjectival forms Slimsy "flimsy, unsubstantial" (1845); slimikin "small and slender" (1745). Slim Jim attested from 1887 in sense of "very thin person;" from 1902 as a type of slender cigar; from 1975 as a brand of meat snack.

slim

1808, "to scamp one's work, do carelessly or superficially," from slim (adj.). Meaning "to make slim" (a garment, etc.) is from 1862; meaning "reduce (one's) weight" is from 1930. Related: Slimmed; slimming.

slim

adjective, slim·mer, slim·mest.

verb (used with object), slimmed, slim·ming.

verb (used without object), slimmed, slim·ming.

noun

Verb Phrases

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of slim

Examples from the Web for slim

slim

adjective slimmer or slimmest

verb slims, slimming or slimmed

Word Origin for slim

Slim

noun

Word Origin for Slim

Slim

noun

slim

slim