lower

verb (1)

low·er | \ ˈlau̇(-ə)r

, ˈlō-ər

variants: or less commonly lour \ ˈlau̇(-ə)r

lowered also loured; lowering also louring; lowers also lours

Definition of lower

(Entry 1 of 4)

intransitive verb

1 : to look sullen : frown

2 : to be or become dark, gloomy, and threatening an overcast sky lowered over the village

lower

noun

variants: or less commonly lour

Definition of lower (Entry 2 of 4)

: frown

lower

adjective

low·er | \ ˈlō-ər

Definition of lower (Entry 3 of 4)

1 : relatively low in position, rank, or order

2 : southern lower New York State

3 : less advanced in the scale of evolutionary development

4a : situated or held to be situated beneath the earth's surface

b capitalized : being an earlier epoch or series of the period or system named Lower Cretaceous Lower Paleolithic

5 : constituting the popular and often the larger and more representative branch of a bicameral legislative body lower house

lower

verb (2)

low·er | \ ˈlō-ər

lowered; lowering; lowers

Definition of lower (Entry 4 of 4)

intransitive verb

: to move down : drop also : diminish

transitive verb

1a : to let descend : let down

b : to depress as to direction lower your aim

c : to reduce the height of

2a : to reduce in value, number, or amount

b(1) : to bring down in quality or character : degrade

(2) : abase, humble

c : to reduce the objective of

lower the boom

: to deal a crushing blow or punishment

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about lower

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Examples of lower in a Sentence

Noun

he turned to see the scornful lower on her face

Adjective

the ship's upper and lower decks The message appeared on the lower portion of the screen. the mountain's upper and lower slopes The forecast is for strong winds at lower elevations. in the lower and higher latitudes the lower and upper peninsulas

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Hawaiian Airlines gets a little more detailed, requiring clothes to cover the upper and lower parts of the torso. — Author: Hannah Sampson, Anchorage Daily News, "What can’t you wear on an airline flight? It’s complicated.," 12 July 2019 Downstairs: rec room opening to backyard; media room, wine room, storage. Heated upper and lower decks. — Bay Area News Group, The Mercury News, "Home sale prices from San Jose and Peninsula areas, June 7," 7 June 2019 But many are newer teachers at the lower end of the pay scale, which starts at about $42,500. — Annysa Johnson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "MPS is hemorrhaging workers, its teachers union says. Will a new salary schedule help?," 10 June 2019 Barton said most larger bass have dropped off the edges down to 22-28 feet in the lower end of the lake, and that deep diving crankbaits or big worms heavily weighted are the best bet to reach them. — Frank Sargeant, al.com, "Friday Fishing Report: Cooler temperatures help anglers," 7 June 2019 The goal is to become more efficient and lower costs, said Gordon Birrell, BP’s chief operating officer for production, transformation and carbon. — Houston Chronicle, "BP unleashing robot army to improve performance, safety," 2 May 2018 Though more expensive than her past partnerships, the price point is on the lower end of the luxury bracket: T-shirts start at around $200 and outerwear goes up to $1,500. — Glamour, "Every Single Look From Rihanna's Brand-New Luxury Fashion Label, Fenty," 29 May 2019 At the lower end of the scale, there are enough amazing sights to see to fill an entire trip. — Kayleigh Roberts, Marie Claire, "Weekend Trip Guide: Where to Stay, Eat, and Drink in Flåm, Norway," 25 May 2019 Also, the opening of your cervix (the narrow passage at the lower end of your uterus) is pretty small. — Korin Miller, SELF, "Here’s When to See a Doctor About Period Clots," 1 Mar. 2019

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