dimmer

noun

dim·​mer ˈdi-mər How to pronounce dimmer (audio)
1
: a device for regulating the intensity of an electric lighting unit
2

Examples of dimmer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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To the lower right of Sirius is Mirzam, a dimmer but distinct star that marks the hound’s elevated paw. Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2026 Article continues below Star clusters and dimmer nebulas are visible threaded through the galactic plane, while the Large Magellanic Cloud — a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way — appears as a hazy patch of light to the bottom right of the shot. Anthony Wood, Space.com, 8 Apr. 2026 High albedo, usually for the moon, means bright areas, and low albedo refers to dimmer locations, Gross said. Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2026 The sportwear company posted on Tuesday better-than-expected results for the fiscal third-quarter, but shares fell nearly 11% on the a dimmer-than-expected sales outlook. Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dimmer

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1896, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dimmer was circa 1896

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Cite this Entry

“Dimmer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dimmer. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

dimmer

noun
dim·​mer ˈdim-ər How to pronounce dimmer (audio)
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

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