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• slim
  slim

  adjective

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

  noun

  the E African name for AIDS

slim

American  

[slim] / slɪm /

adjective

• slimmer,
  comparative
• slimmest
  superlative

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

   Synonyms:

   thin

   Antonyms:

   fat

2. poor or inferior.

   a slim chance; a slim excuse.

3. small or inconsiderable; meager; scanty.

   a slim income.

   Synonyms:

   paltry, trivial, trifling, insignificant

   Antonyms:

   abundant, considerable

4. sized for the thinner than average person.

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verb (used with object)

slimmed, slimming

1. to make slim.

verb (used without object)

slimmed, slimming

1. to become slim.

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

noun

1. a garment size meant for a thin person.

verb phrase

1. slim down

   1. to lose weight, especially intentionally.

   2. (of a business) to reduce operating expenses; economize.

slim ¹ British  

/ slɪm /

adjective

1. small in width relative to height or length

2. small in amount or quality

   slim chances of success

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verb

1. to make or become slim, esp by diets and exercise

2. to reduce or decrease or cause to be reduced or decreased

Slim ² British  

/ slɪm /

noun

1. the E African name for AIDS

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Slim ³ British  

/ slɪm /

noun

1. 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)

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Synonym Usage

See slender.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• slimmer
  noun
• slimness
  noun
• unslimness
  noun
• unslim
  adjective
• unslimmed
  adjective
• slimly
  adverb
• unslimly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Adjectives

• slimmer
  comparative
• slimmest
  superlative

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Etymology

Origin of slim

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

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Explanation

Anything slim is thin or narrow. So, your sister may be considered slim, and you could also have "a slim chance" of winning the lottery. Slim people are slender, and slim things are usually delicate, like a slim watch band. You can also use slim to describe a margin or a chance: "There was only a slim likelihood that the home team would win this game." Back in the early 1800s, to slim meant "to do one's work carelessly," and in the seventeenth century, the adjective was also used to mean "sly or crafty."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

slim Slim slimmer slimmest slimmed slimming

Alimi said the chances were slim that the complaint would lead to the opening of an investigation.

From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026

The participation rate in super catch-up contributions is slim.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026

At 2-5, their chances for a turnaround are slim with quarterback Jalen Hurts likely out for the season.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026

Sir Geoffrey said "the chaos currently engulfing the Civil Service Pension Scheme means that the likelihood of death benefit payments being made within two years is slim".

From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026

The arm was slim and sparsely haired, without wrinkles or kidney spots.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

Instead, he let Slim Shady learn a hard lesson that true southerners know: You lay down with dogs, you wake up with fleas.

From Salon ● Oct. 21, 2026

The home of a Brighton music venue is to become community owned as part of a £7m initiative backed by DJ Fatboy Slim and Andy Burnham dubbed the "National Trust of music venues".

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

The maker of Slim Jim and Healthy Choice has seen its shares slide by 26% over the past 12 months.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

Nara and Lucky Blue Smith, 28, married in 2020 and share four children: eldest daughter Rumble Honey, son Slim Easy, Whimsy Lou and infant Fawnie Golden.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026

It seemed the sisters shared their father equally but they were determined to prove which one was the right and true daughter of Slim Jim Trotter.

From "Gone Crazy in Alabama" by Rita Williams-Garcia

Just inside the door, there was a flimsy mannequin with the face of a much younger, slimmer Trump, wearing a red “Trump 2028” hat, a dark suit, and a signature red tie.

From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026

Soon, the fun fan shot was replaced by one of those grim before-and-after shots: An obese Goodman in his 30s and the slimmer Goodman in his 70s.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

Responding to the watchdog, Jaded London argued it was "not clear" the model was holding a cigarette because it was slimmer than normal and "did not appear to be lit".

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

We have to demonstrate the performance of this much longer, much slimmer wing in terms of reduced fuel consumption.

From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026

The slimmer boy swung down out of sight.

From "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt

PNC Bank data also show that lower-income household spending, excluding gasoline, has accelerated this year, narrowing the gap with higher-income spending growth to the slimmest margin since 2021.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

In a semi-final dominated by the return, Gauff edged Paolini by the slimmest of margins.

From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2025

Two dozen parents who sent their daughters to summer camp are grieving, while others are waiting in anguish with the slimmest of hopes because their loved ones have yet to be found.

From Salon ● Jul. 10, 2025

But when it came to science, Narlikar believed in exploring the slimmest of possibilities.

From BBC ● May 23, 2025

He couldn’t not go, not now they had found the entrance to the Chamber, not if there was even the faintest, slimmest, wildest chance that Ginny might be alive.

From "Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets" by J. K. Rowling

Since setting out a new strategy in 2024, Simoes has slimmed the company to three core divisions from four businesses previously, and has sold off non-strategic businesses such as Cala Homes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

He has slimmed down his schedule to prioritise the majors.

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026

Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman cut deeper into the lead of reality television personality Spencer Pratt on Saturday, as his lead slimmed to just a single percentage point.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 7, 2026

Rent eats up more than half of Imeh’s take-home pay, which was slimmed after a credit-card company started garnishing part of her wages to pay off her card debts, she said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 8, 2026

She’d slimmed down and shot up and started worrying about clothes.

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

But there are also questions about whether the BBC needs to learn from its rivals by slimming down the number of stories it does and prioritizing the big hits.

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026

Admittedly, Ms. Browne’s culling and slimming at times curtails crucial information.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

Continental, which has been struggling amid a crisis in the wider European auto sector, has been slimming down its operations to focus on its traditional tyre business.

From Barron's ● Jul. 4, 2026

It is thought to be the result of rapid slimming, rather than the medication itself.

From BBC ● Jun. 8, 2026

The column of light in front of us is closing, slimming into a pinpoint.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

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