slowly

[sloh-lee]

adverb

1. in a slow manner; at a slow speed.

   Sauté the peppers slowly.

   I drove slowly back home.

Confusables Note

See slow.

Word History and Origins

Origin of slowly¹

First recorded in 1310–50; Middle English slawliche, slawly; slow ( def. ), -ly ( def. )

Example Sentences

It may be best to roll it out slowly, with trial periods and plenty of forewarning to markets.

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Rows of jagged peaks slowly revealed steep canyons.

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But over the past five years it has slowly proved how internet content can turn into a profitable business with a stable infrastructure.

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The jobless rate, which has slowly risen from a low of 4.0% in the summer of 2024, was higher than consensus expectations from economists polled by The Wall Street Journal.

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People in this age group face higher risks of overdose because many manage chronic illnesses, take multiple medications, and metabolize drugs more slowly as they age.

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Related Words

• calmly 
• casually 
• deliberately 
• gently 
• gradually 
• haltingly www.thesaurus.com
• lazily www.thesaurus.com
• nonchalantly 

When To Use

What is a basic definition of slowly?

Slowly is used when something is happening in a slow manner or in a way that lacks speed or quickness.Slowly is the adverb form of the word slow, which describes something as lacking speed. If you walk slowly, for example, you are not moving quickly. Things that happen slowly take much longer to occur than things that happen quickly.

• Real-life examples: Sloths, snails, and turtles move very slowly. For safety, it is a good idea to drive slowly past schools or construction sites. For most people, time moves slowly when they are bored, at school, or at work.



• Used in a sentence: She picked up the broken glass slowly and carefully.