dimmer

noun

dim·​mer ˈdi-mər 

1

: a device for regulating the intensity of an electric lighting unit

2

: low beam

Examples of dimmer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Apparently, in the hasty move to LACMA, someone had forgotten to bring a dimmer. —Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026

Another collaborator insisted that the lighting be controlled by an absurdly big dimmer. —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2026

Then a whole bank of dimmers on the switchboard unaccountably fused. —Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026

Either way, as totality deepens and the moon grows dimmer, try increasing magnification and focus on some of the moon’s famous features bathed in red light, such as Tycho crater rays and the rugged Apennine Mountains. —Jamie Carter, Space.com, 2 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1896, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dimmer

• dimmer switch

Rhymes for dimmer

• brimmer
• glimmer
• grimmer
• nimmer
• rimmer
• shimmer
• simmer
• skimmer
• slimmer
• swimmer
• timmer
• trimmer

Kids Definition

dimmer

noun

dim·​mer ˈdim-ər 

1

: a device for controlling the amount of light from an electric lighting unit (as the headlights of an automobile or the lights of a room)

2

: low beam