1
a
: mentally dull : stupid
a slow student
b
: naturally inert or sluggish
2
a
: lacking in readiness, promptness, or willingness
b
: not hasty or precipitate
was slow to anger
3
4
: requiring a long time : gradual
a slow recovery
5
: having qualities that hinder rapid progress or action
a slow track
6
a
: registering behind or below what is correct
the clock is slow
b
: less than the time indicated by another method of reckoning
c
: that is behind the time at a specified time or place
7
a
: lacking in life, animation, or gaiety : boring
the first chapter is a bit slow
b
: marked by reduced activity
business was slow
a slow news week
slowness
noun
Slow vs. Slowly: Usage Guide
Some commentators claim that careful writers avoid the adverb slow, in spite of the fact that it has had over four centuries of usage.
have a continent forbearance till the speed of his rage goes slower
—
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
In actual practice, slow and slowly are not used in quite the same way. Slow is almost always used with verbs that denote movement or action, and it regularly follows the verb it modifies.
beans … are best cooked long and slow
—Louise Prothro
Louise Prothro
Slowly is used before the verb
a sense of outrage, which slowly changed to shame
—Paul Horgan
Paul Horgan
and with participial adjectives.
a slowly dawning awareness … of the problem
—Amer. Labor
Amer. Labor
Slowly is used after verbs where slow might also be used
burn slow or slowly
and after verbs where slow would be unidiomatic.
the leadership turned slowly toward bombing as a means of striking back
—David Halberstam
David Halberstam
slowed; slowing; slows
: to make slow or slower : slacken the speed of
slow a car
—often used with down or up
: to go or become slower
production of new cars slowed sharply
Synonyms
Examples of slow in a Sentence
Adjective
The buyers were slow to act, and the house was sold to someone else.
He was a quiet boy who seldom spoke, and some people thought he was a little slow.
Business is slow during the summer.
The first few chapters are slow, but after that it gets better.
Adverb
My computer is working slow.
you need to go slow with this experiment, or you'll make mistakes
Verb
The car slowed and gradually came to a stop.
The extra weight slowed the truck.
Recent Examples on the WebPeter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
The company has taken a slow and steady approach to expanding, however the first locations north and west of Texas have opened.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 6 Apr. 2024
Protect tender plants from the cold, NWS advises, and wrap and drain any outdoor water pipes to prevent freezes or leave them on a slow drip.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Apr. 2024
Like its protagonist, Ripley is a slower and more methodical take on the character.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2024
Acceptance of the 87-year-old composer by the classical music establishment has been painfully slow and weirdly irregular.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
And, as in Los Angeles, the report found that skipped welfare checks, slow responses and other negligence were some of the factors that may have contributed to that increase.
—Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
While traveling west on I-435, the victim attempted to pass a car that was in front of them, traveling at a slower speed.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2024
Foreign stereotypes of French restaurants tend to paint the service as slow.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 25 Mar. 2024
Jane Herman, Vogue, 7 Apr. 2024
Some are tall and rangy while others are low and compact, growth rate varies from slow to rapid, and some have small leaves like Kurume hybrids while others have large leaves.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2024
While humidity will be roughly the same as what was experienced during that time, forecasters said wind gusts – a main driving factor of the fast-spreading blazes – will be about 20 mph slower.
—Li Cohen, CBS News, 13 Mar. 2024
Will the streaming spigot slow to a trickle, forcing auteurs to find new homes for their pricey passion projects?
—Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024
Briner said the process in Minnesota is not going slower than in other states.
—Steve Karnowski, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2024
Crossings slow in Eagle Pass An aerial view shows migrants walking next to razor wire after crossing the Rio Grande to seek asylum at sunset in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Feb. 4, 2024.
—Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2024
These are a super flexible shoe, and the insole is actually removable for anyone who wants to start slow in the barefoot world and work their way into a true barefoot feel.
—Maggie Slepian, Travel + Leisure, 19 Jan. 2024
The district advised residents to ensure that storm drains are clear to avoid potential minor flooding and to drive slow, since visibility will be lower.
—Austin Turner, The Mercury News, 19 Jan. 2024
Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2024
Clingan had 11 points and did his best to slow down Purdue’s star player and his opposite number, Zach Edey, who finished with 37 points and 10 rebounds in the losing effort.
—Ben Morse, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
And while price increases have slowed in Arizona, its cumulative gain since early 2021 is among the nation's largest.
—Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
Beavers can help prevent wildfire damage in certain types of California landscapes, by damming creeks to slow the flow of water, spreading moisture through floodplains and felling trees.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Eating collagen-rich foods, including salmon, and supplementing can help slow the rate of decline and keep the skin plump for longer.
—Veronica Cristino, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2024
Rate hikes would increase borrowing costs for consumers and businesses, potentially slowing economic activity through weaker household spending and company investment.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 8 Apr. 2024
Two and a half millennia later, in 2016, astronomers used these same ancient records to measure the change in the rate at which Earth’s rotation is slowing—which is to say, the amount by which are days are lengthening, over thousands of years.
—Rebecca Boyle, TIME, 8 Apr. 2024
The Administration did not specify any consequences, but officials had signalled before the call that Biden might slow or halt shipments of categories of arms.
—Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Tesla warned in January that sales growth this year would be even slower.
—Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
The company has taken a slow and steady approach to expanding, however the first locations north and west of Texas have opened.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 6 Apr. 2024
Protect tender plants from the cold, NWS advises, and wrap and drain any outdoor water pipes to prevent freezes or leave them on a slow drip.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Apr. 2024
Like its protagonist, Ripley is a slower and more methodical take on the character.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2024
Acceptance of the 87-year-old composer by the classical music establishment has been painfully slow and weirdly irregular.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
And, as in Los Angeles, the report found that skipped welfare checks, slow responses and other negligence were some of the factors that may have contributed to that increase.
—Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
While traveling west on I-435, the victim attempted to pass a car that was in front of them, traveling at a slower speed.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2024
Foreign stereotypes of French restaurants tend to paint the service as slow.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 25 Mar. 2024
Adverb
My general advice when self-distressing is to go slow.
—Jane Herman, Vogue, 7 Apr. 2024
Some are tall and rangy while others are low and compact, growth rate varies from slow to rapid, and some have small leaves like Kurume hybrids while others have large leaves.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2024
While humidity will be roughly the same as what was experienced during that time, forecasters said wind gusts – a main driving factor of the fast-spreading blazes – will be about 20 mph slower.
—Li Cohen, CBS News, 13 Mar. 2024
Will the streaming spigot slow to a trickle, forcing auteurs to find new homes for their pricey passion projects?
—Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024
Briner said the process in Minnesota is not going slower than in other states.
—Steve Karnowski, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2024
Crossings slow in Eagle Pass An aerial view shows migrants walking next to razor wire after crossing the Rio Grande to seek asylum at sunset in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Feb. 4, 2024.
—Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2024
These are a super flexible shoe, and the insole is actually removable for anyone who wants to start slow in the barefoot world and work their way into a true barefoot feel.
—Maggie Slepian, Travel + Leisure, 19 Jan. 2024
The district advised residents to ensure that storm drains are clear to avoid potential minor flooding and to drive slow, since visibility will be lower.
—Austin Turner, The Mercury News, 19 Jan. 2024
Verb
In the event of your vehicle hydroplaning, here’s what to know:
• Ease off the accelerator — Step off the gas to slow down the vehicle until the tires find traction.
—Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2024
Clingan had 11 points and did his best to slow down Purdue’s star player and his opposite number, Zach Edey, who finished with 37 points and 10 rebounds in the losing effort.
—Ben Morse, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
And while price increases have slowed in Arizona, its cumulative gain since early 2021 is among the nation's largest.
—Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
Beavers can help prevent wildfire damage in certain types of California landscapes, by damming creeks to slow the flow of water, spreading moisture through floodplains and felling trees.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024
Eating collagen-rich foods, including salmon, and supplementing can help slow the rate of decline and keep the skin plump for longer.
—Veronica Cristino, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2024
Rate hikes would increase borrowing costs for consumers and businesses, potentially slowing economic activity through weaker household spending and company investment.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 8 Apr. 2024
Two and a half millennia later, in 2016, astronomers used these same ancient records to measure the change in the rate at which Earth’s rotation is slowing—which is to say, the amount by which are days are lengthening, over thousands of years.
—Rebecca Boyle, TIME, 8 Apr. 2024
The Administration did not specify any consequences, but officials had signalled before the call that Biden might slow or halt shipments of categories of arms.
—Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'slow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near slow
Cite this Entry
“Slow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slow. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
slow
1 of 3 adjective1
2
a
: unwilling to take prompt action
b
: not easily aroused or excited
was slow to anger
3
a
: moving, flowing, or proceeding without speed or at less than usual speed
traffic was slow
b
: not vigorous or active
a slow fire
c
: taking place at a low rate or over a considerable period of time
slow progress in negotiations
4
: having qualities that hinder or stop rapid progress or action
a slow racetrack
5
a
: registering behind or below what is correct
the clock is slow
b
: that is behind the time at a specified time or place
6
: lacking in activity or liveliness
a slow market
slow
2 of 3 adverb
: in a slow manner
slow
3 of 3 verb
: to make or go slow or slower
—often used with down or up
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