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• slow motion
  slow motion

  noun

  the process or technique of filming or taping a motion-picture or television sequence at an accelerated rate of speed and then projecting or replaying it at normal speed so that the action appears to be slowed down.
• slow-motion
  slow-motion

  adjective

  of, pertaining to or made in slow motion.

slow motion

¹ American  

noun

1. the process or technique of filming or taping a motion-picture or television sequence at an accelerated rate of speed and then projecting or replaying it at normal speed so that the action appears to be slowed down.

2. the effect thus created.

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slow-motion ² American  

[sloh-moh-shuhn] / ˈsloʊˈmoʊ ʃən /

adjective

1. of, pertaining to or made in slow motion.

   a slow-motion replay.

2. moving or proceeding at a strikingly slow rate.

   slow-motion progress toward a settlement.

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slow motion British  

noun

1. films television action that is made to appear slower than normal by passing the film through the taking camera at a faster rate than normal or by replaying a video tape recording more slowly

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adjective

1. films television of or relating to such action

2. moving or functioning at less than usual speed

Etymology

Origin of slow motion¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Origin of slow-motion²

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

slow motion slow-motion

Claus had watched the replay in slow motion, allowing him to see what wasn’t apparent at game speed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026

With piles of snow at every intersection and pedestrians moving in slow motion, I regularly bolted ahead and mounted obstacles like a fullback rushing for glory, leaving Sarah somewhere behind.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 9, 2026

The VAR is damned if they do use slow motion replays, and damned if they do not.

From BBC ● Jan. 19, 2026

This features a life-sized giraffe and a replica of an equestrian statue of Otto von Bismarck, the first chancellor of the German Empire, both constantly change shape in slow motion.

From Barron's ● Oct. 22, 2025

And when I turned back again, it was as if the world was unspooling in slow motion.

From "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Cristina Henríquez

"On too many occasions cameras are zoomed in, showing super slow-motion action replays of athletes in undignified positions."

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026

Reports have suggested that the US questioned the use of slow-motion replays in the VAR review.

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

What is to be feared is a slow-motion migrating of human need away from other humans and toward AI, which has deeper hooks than other screen technologies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026

And Jude isn’t above including a mocking slow-motion shot of a spoiled French boy totally whiffing a soccer kick.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 22, 2026

It took a frightfully long time—Sir Lancelot's innings frequently lasted all day, if he were battling against a good knight—and the movements had a feeling of slow-motion, because of the weight at armour.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White