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

Its dimmer light encourages the pupil to dilate, leaving its cells vulnerable to ultraviolet light in the precise place where the eye discerns fine detail in a beautiful landscape or face. —Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2024

Simply put, the technology allows a projector to redistribute light in such a way as to give movies more range between the brightest highlights in sunny scenes and the deepest black tones in scenes shot in dimmer light. —Carolyn Giardina, Variety, 4 Apr. 2024

Likewise, if the pupils are wider in the before image, that’s usually due to dimmer lighting. —Jolene Edgar, Allure, 1 Dec. 2023

The general appearance of the environment becomes dimmer (though your eyes counter this to an extent by opening the pupils wider). —Daniel Johnson, Discover Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024

Light dimmers are also on the rise, factoring into 47% of remodels. —Marni Jameson, The Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2024

The rest of the road is still covered in bright light with just a pocket of dimmer light around the other vehicles. —Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 15 Feb. 2024

Lots of folks add dimmers to chandeliers and recessed lighting, so why not put dimmer switches on your table lamps? —Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2024

Along beachfronts, bright streetlamps have been replaced with dimmer red lights to help baby sea turtles reach the sea. —Carley Thornell, Travel + Leisure, 19 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1896, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dimmer

• dimmer switch

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