slow down
Idioms-
Delay, retard, reduce speed, as in She slowed down the sled by dragging her foot , or Slow down, Bill; you're driving much too fast . [First half of 1800s] Also see slow up .
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Become less active or vigorous, as in Now that I'm in my seventies I find I've slowed down quite a bit . [Second half of 1800s]
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.
The industry’s growth is set to continue, but slow down, with a major advantage to the players who are already the largest.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 10, 2026
In the second trimester’s relative calm, I decided I wanted a new project—one that would force me to slow down and reflect on how I’ve been parenting.
From Slate • May 10, 2026
The googly-eyed robots slow down near pedestrians and stop entirely if proximity becomes too close, emit a running sound for audibility, and use 360-degree lights at night to appear in the peripheral vision of humans.
From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026
Because arginine is already used clinically in Japan and has been shown to safely reach the brain, it could bypass some of the early hurdles that slow down traditional drug development.
From Science Daily • May 4, 2026
When finally my sobs slow down, I drop my hands from my face.
From "How to Disappear Completely" by Ali Standish
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.
