dim

\ ˈdim

How to pronounce dim (audio)

\

dimmer; dimmest

Definition of dim

(Entry 1 of 4)

1a : emitting or having a limited or insufficient amount of light dim stars a dim lamp a dim hallway

b : dull, lusterless dim colors

c : lacking pronounced, clear-cut, or vigorous quality or character a dim echo of the past

2a : seen indistinctly a dim outline

b : perceived by the senses or mind indistinctly or weakly : faint had only a dim notion of what was going on

c : having little prospect of favorable result or outcome a dim future

d : characterized by an unfavorable, skeptical, or pessimistic attitude —usually used in the phrase take a dim view oftakes a dim view of human nature

3 : dim-witted too dim to understand the joke

4 : not perceiving clearly and distinctly dim eyes

dim

dimmed; dimming

Definition of dim (Entry 2 of 4)

transitive verb

1 : to reduce the light from dim the headlights

2 : to make dim or lusterless dimmed their hopes of an early settlement

intransitive verb

: to become dim the lights dimmed their beauty had dimmed

dim

Definition of dim (Entry 3 of 4)

1 automotive vehicles : low beam

2 archaic : dusk, dimness

dim

Definition of dim (Entry 4 of 4)

1 dimension

2 diminished

3 diminuendo

4 diminutive

Other Words from dim Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about dim

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Examples of dim in a Sentence

Adjective Just the dim outline of the building could be seen through the fog. I have a dim memory of your last visit. Verb The latest setback has dimmed hopes of an early settlement. Hopes of an early settlement have dimmed.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Its aim is to put astronauts on the lunar surface by 2024, but the prospects for that date are dim. — David W. Brown, WSJ, "For NASA, It Should Be Mars or Bust," 18 Dec. 2020 The bill’s political prospects appear to be dim, as the liability measures have drawn almost no support from Democrats, although the measures are paired with aid for state and local governments struggling to meet their budgets during the crisis. — Washington Post, "How the GOP’s stimulus measure could weaken protections for workers, minorities, and the disabled," 16 Dec. 2020 So her face is obscured by a heavy-duty respirator with big, pink filters, two bright spots in the dim light. — Los Angeles Times, "From healthcare worker to patient: Death in Room 311," 12 Dec. 2020 Neighborhoods futures are dim without state funding. — Star Tribune, "Small business needs state help right now," 1 Dec. 2020 At the same time, millions of Americans are feeling a budget squeeze as the pandemic wears on, while hopes are dim that a new round of fiscal stimulus could be achieved anytime soon. — Henry Ren, Bloomberg.com, "U.S. Job Picture Worsens Amid Latest Surge in Coronavirus Cases," 18 Nov. 2020 Despite his dim view of the bocche di leone, Twain did come to appreciate the vestiges of Venice’s past as a city-state with global significance. — Kasia Dietz, Travel, "Need to complain? Here’s how Renaissance-era Venetians did it," 4 Jan. 2021 The performance kicked off with cowboys riding into an open-air dirt-floor stadium in dim light. — Anna Chan, Billboard, "Megan Thee Stallion Brings the Heat to Apple Music Awards 2020 With Fiery Six-Song Set," 15 Dec. 2020 But the prospects for local and statewide bans appear dim, especially in the wake of a Supreme Court decision siding with church groups over anti-COVID restrictions in New York. — Rafael Olmeda, sun-sentinel.com, "No one can stop anti-gay therapy in Florida — for now. How LGBTQ advocates are rethinking their battle strategy.," 6 Dec. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Add to that the overwhelming size of the state, the cost of campaigning in California and the political picture in 2022, and Republican hopes dim. — John Wildermuth, SFChronicle.com, "Can California GOP find a Senate candidate in 2022? If not, Alex Padilla could be set for years," 29 Dec. 2020 Don't let the changes dim your enjoyment or holiday spirit. — Staff Report, NOLA.com, "Holiday lights are shining across the metro area," 21 Dec. 2020 Many headlamps are designed to dim after several minutes. — The Popular Mechanics Editors, Popular Mechanics, "Gear of the Year: The Best Products We Tested in 2020," 29 Dec. 2020 As the gray day started to dim, more-experienced bird watchers appeared carrying cameras outfitted with huge telephoto lenses. — Susan Degrane, chicagotribune.com, "Eyeing eagles: Winter is a perfect time to get outside, beat cabin fever and go birding," 26 Dec. 2020 Smaller planes won't mean less comfort: Expect to see wider seats, larger windows that are able to dim, and more spacious overhead bins. — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, "What the Future of Air Travel Looks Like," 14 Dec. 2020 Yet here’s the moment when the glow of the genomics revolution starts to dim: What happens when a drug stops working? — Sarah Elizabeth Richards, Wired, "One Man’s Search for the DNA Data That Could Save His Life," 19 Nov. 2020 Among the bundle’s features are blind-spot assist, adaptive cruise control with braking, lane-keep, traffic-jam and highway assist as well as traffic sign recognition and outside mirrors that automatically dim. — Jeff Yip, Chron, "Refresh sweetens 2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio's allure," 6 Nov. 2020 View this post on Instagram because nothing can dim your light! — Chelsea Hall, Marie Claire, "The 43 Black-Owned Beauty Brands We'll Never Stop Talking About," 28 Oct. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun But as the immediate prospects of additional state and local aid from Washington dim, unions and progressive groups are intensifying their campaign for Albany lawmakers to adopt new revenue streams. — Jimmy Vielkind, WSJ, "New York State Lawmakers Weigh Tax Increase on Wealthy," 16 Dec. 2020 The claustrophobia of this—of fire turning the entire West Coast dim with smoke, on top of the fear, isolation, and long-term lockdown imposed by the pandemic—is almost too much to bear. — Emma Marris, The Atlantic, "The West Has Never Felt So Small," 10 Sep. 2020 From the 1830s to the 1950s, minstrel shows depicted Black people as subservient, dim-witted, lazy and docile. — Richard J. Reddick For Cnn Business Perspectives, CNN, "American companies wouldn't have as many racist logos if C-Suites were more diverse," 20 June 2020 Cloaked in dim, ambient lighting, this chain of events recurs throughout the film, though some of his late-night forays, on foot or by bicycle, are actually dreams while others are revealed as cruising. — Kristen Yoonsoo Kim, New York Times, "‘15 Years’ Review: On the Run From a Midlife Crisis," 30 Apr. 2020 Then came last season's game, on Feb. 24 at Crisler Center, with MSU’s hopes of a second straight Big Ten title looking dim after a host of injuries. — Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press, "How Cassius Winston and Zavier Simpson have made MSU vs. U-M a one-on-one matchup," 5 Jan. 2020 Stocks in Europe and Asia fell broadly as the global prospects for economic growth dim amid trade uncertainty. — Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, "Dow: Signs of slowing job growth, troubles overseas push US stocks lower," 1 Oct. 2019 In the dim, red light of an alien sun, scientists have found the first evidence for water in the atmosphere of a rocky planet - offering a tantalizing new target in the search for life in the universe. — Sarah Kaplan, Anchorage Daily News, "Scientists say they found their first potentially habitable planet with water in its skies," 12 Sep. 2019 In the dim, red light of an alien sun, scientists have found the first evidence for water in the atmosphere of a rocky planet - offering a tantalizing new target in the search for life in the universe. — Sarah Kaplan, Anchorage Daily News, "Scientists say they found their first potentially habitable planet with water in its skies," 12 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dim.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

24 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Dim.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dim. Accessed 26 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for dim

dim

verb

English Language Learners Definition of dim

: to make (a light) less bright or to become less bright

: to make (something) less strong or clear or to become less strong or clear

See the full definition for dim in the English Language Learners Dictionary

dim

\ ˈdim

\

dimmer; dimmest

Kids Definition of dim

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : not bright or distinct : faint a dim light

2 : not seeing or understanding clearly dim eyes He has only a dim awareness of the problem.

dim

dimmed; dimming

Kids Definition of dim (Entry 2 of 2)

: to make or become less bright or clear Please dim the lights. His eyesight dimmed with age.

dim

Medical Definition of dim

diminished

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