slow

adjective \ ˈslō \

Updated on: 26 Apr 2018

Definition of slow

1 a : mentally dull : stupid

a slow student

b : naturally inert or sluggish

2 a : lacking in readiness, promptness, or willingness

b : not hasty or precipitate

was slow to anger

3 a : moving, flowing, or proceeding without speed or at less than usual speed

traffic was slow

b : exhibiting or marked by low speed

he moved with slow deliberation

c : not acute

a slow disease

d : low, gentle

slow fire

4 : requiring a long time : gradual

a slow recovery

5 : having qualities that hinder rapid progress or action

a slow track

6 a : registering behind or below what is correct

the clock is slow

b : less than the time indicated by another method of reckoning

c : that is behind the time at a specified time or place

7 a : lacking in life, animation, or gaiety : boring

the first chapter is a bit slow

b : marked by reduced activity

business was slow

a slow news week

—

slowish

play \ˈslō-ish\ adjective

—

slowness

noun

See slow defined for English-language learners

See slow defined for kids

Examples of slow in a Sentence

The buyers were slow to act, and the house was sold to someone else.
He was a quiet boy who seldom spoke, and some people thought he was a little slow.
Business is slow during the summer.
The first few chapters are slow, but after that it gets better.

Recent Examples of slow from the Web

The Bucks got off to a slow start, but turned things around thanks to their defense, which held the Celtics under 30% from the field in the first quarter.

— matt velazquez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Bucks 104, Celtics 102: Giannis Antetokounmpo's tip-in helps even series," 22 Apr. 2018
Trump got a slow start to filling her East Wing team compared with her recent predecessors, putting her first hire, chief of staff Lindsay Reynolds, in place two weeks after the Inauguration.

— betsy klein, CNN, "Melania Trump's East Wing team as they prepare for major diplomatic moment," 21 Apr. 2018
The Pride are off to a slow start, but haven’t played a match with all of their players available.

— jordan culver, Pro Soccer USA, "Orlando Pride push for win over Houston Dash during final short-handed match," 21 Apr. 2018
With only a handful of competitive local races on the ballot, early voting in Porter County is off to a slow start.

— amy lavalley, Post-Tribune, "Early primary voting off to slow start in Porter County," 20 Apr. 2018
What is up for debate is that Miami has had slow starts since going 3-0 in 2013.

— chris perkins, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Dolphins open 2018 season at home vs. Titans, end with brutal five-game stretch," 20 Apr. 2018
The Lightning have now won three of their past four games after a slow start to the year.

— kyle stackpole, Howard County Times, "Reservoir baseball capitalizes on walks, errors to take down Glenelg," 19 Apr. 2018
The key disadvantage that AT&T and Time Warner face is their slow start in behavioral advertising and marketing, Mr. Stephenson said.

— cecilia kang, New York Times, "AT&T Chief Attacks Lawsuit to Block Time Warner Merger," 19 Apr. 2018
After a slow start, Glass got in a groove on the mound and Rucker delivered the biggest hit of the game in the Panthers' 11-4 win.

— nate bryan, The Courier-Journal, "Pleasure Ridge Park, Glass find a groove and roll past Eastern," 18 Apr. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of slow

Middle English, from Old English slāw; akin to Old High German slēo dull

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First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

slow Synonyms

slow

adverb

Definition of slow

: slowly

See slow defined for English-language learners

slow vs. slowly

Some commentators claim that careful writers avoid the adverb slow, in spite of the fact that it has had over four centuries of usage.

- have a continent forbearance till the speed of his rage goes slower
- —William Shakespeare

In actual practice, slow and slowly are not used in quite the same way. Slow is almost always used with verbs that denote movement or action, and it regularly follows the verb it modifies.

- beans … are best cooked long and slow
- —Louise Prothro

Slowly is used before the verb

- a sense of outrage, which slowly changed to shame
- —Paul Horgan

and with participial adjectives.

- a slowly dawning awareness … of the problem
- —Amer. Labor

Slowly is used after verbs where slow might also be used

- burn slow or slowly

and after verbs where slow would be unidiomatic.

- the leadership turned slowly toward bombing as a means of striking back
- —David Halberstam

Examples of slow in a Sentence

My computer is working slow.
you need to go slow with this experiment, or you'll make mistakes

Recent Examples of slow from the Web

The slow-moving storm has brought catastrophic flooding to Texas, killed at least nine people, led to mass evacuations and paralyzed Houston, the fourth most-populous U.S. city.

— mihir zaveri, Houston Chronicle, "Harris County seeks billboard campaign encouraging residents to buy flood insurance," 10 Apr. 2018
The Trump presidency has been a slow-moving freakout, every new episode representing a surreal extension of the unknown.

— jonathan chait, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump Staffers Are Freaking Out Even More Than Usual Right Now," 6 Apr. 2018
His funeral ceremonies began with a Mass in New York’s Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, and his coffin was carried from New York to Washington on a slow-moving train.

— alice george, Smithsonian, "When Robert Kennedy Delivered the News of Martin Luther King’s Assassination," 2 Apr. 2018
Holdsworth has spent the past five years working with geologists at Northumbria University, in his hometown of Newcastle, to develop a new way of visualizing these rivers of slow-moving ice.

— michael hardy, WIRED, "You've Never Seen the Alps Like This Before," 2 Apr. 2018
The incident, which took place around 4 a.m. Sunday, comes just days after a state trooper, Kevin Miller, was killed when his cruiser struck a slow-moving tractor trailer on I-84 in Tolland.

— matthew ormseth, courant.com, "State Police: Hartford Woman, Under the Influence, Crashes Into State Police Cruiser," 1 Apr. 2018
Expect more detours, lane closures and slow-moving traffic until the $16 million makeover that began last fall is completed by next summer.

— wayne k. roustan, Sun-Sentinel.com, "New Broward Boulevard bridge opens to traffic in Fort Lauderdale," 29 Mar. 2018
But the working theory is that they are forged when ovulation occurs too rapidly or when one yolk catches up with another slow-moving yolk in a hen’s oviduct.

— mari uyehara, Bon Appetit, "Why Do Some Eggs Have Double Yolks? An Investigation.," 27 Mar. 2018
Later this year, his team plans to conduct its first outdoor trial, launching a slow-moving balloon over Tucson, Arizona, to disperse substances such as calcium carbonate dust or sulfur dioxide to reflect the sun’s rays back into space.

— katherine ellison, WIRED, "Why Climate Change Skeptics Are Backing Geoengineering," 28 Mar. 2018

First Known Use of slow

15th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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slow Synonyms

Synonyms

laggardly, leisurely, pokily, slowly, sluggishly, tardily;

Antonyms

apace, briskly, fast, fleetly, full tilt, hastily, quick, quickly, rapidly, snappily, speedily, swift, swiftly;

Near Antonyms

immediately, posthaste, presto, promptly, pronto, readily, soon;

impetuously, impulsively, rashly, recklessly;

abruptly, suddenly;

heavily, ploddingly;

slow

verb

Definition of slow

transitive verb

: to make slow or slower : slacken the speed of

slow a car

—often used with down or up

intransitive verb

: to go or become slower

production of new cars slowed sharply

See slow defined for English-language learners

Examples of slow in a Sentence

The car slowed and gradually came to a stop.
The extra weight slowed the truck.

Recent Examples of slow from the Web

The idea of slowing vessels down draws ire from countries that export perishable goods, like cherries and grapes, as Chile does.

— The Economist, "The shipping industry attempts to cap carbon emissions," 14 Apr. 2018
All that would have done is unnecessarily pissed people off and slowed things down by maybe 60 days.

— zachary fryer-biggs, Vox, "“Otherwise, they subpoena”: White House lawyer Ty Cobb on why Trump is cooperating with Mueller," 12 Apr. 2018
Shannon Barney told the Press-Democrat of Santa Rosa that officials will launch a search of the south fork of the Eel River once water levels drop and the flow slows.

— gregg re, Fox News, "Second family may have perished in California near Hart clan's plunge, police say," 11 Apr. 2018
Such concerns had been quelled over the last decade as climate models suggested this branch of the ocean’s circulatory system was not likely to see a rapid slowdown, which would slow any consequences.

— andrea thompson, Scientific American, "Slow-Motion Ocean: Atlantic’s Circulation Is Weakest in 1,600 Years," 11 Apr. 2018
In January, The Chronicle reported that the Navy was preparing a comprehensive re-examination of the soil, slowing the redevelopment of the second phase of the property by at least a year.

— michael cabanatuan, San Francisco Chronicle, "SF shipyard activists frustrated by naval officials on alleged soil test fraud," 11 Apr. 2018
Spotify, the world's top selling music streaming service, expects revenue to grow 20-30 percent this year as currency swings slow the pace from 2017.

— shelby fleig, USA TODAY, "Hulu and Spotify offer a cost-saving dual subscription for $12.99 per month," 11 Apr. 2018
Deep blue is considered to be the optimum color for slowing down the body and mind to allow relaxation and recuperation.

— meghan overdeep, Southern Living, "WATCH: These 5 Mood-Boosting Paint Colors Will Make Your Home a Happier Place," 9 Apr. 2018
The Magic had difficulty slowing the Raptors (58-22) even though All-Star shooting guard DeMar DeRozan and starting center Jonas Valanciunas were given the night off to rest.

— josh robbins, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Terrence Ross returns as Magic lose to Raptors 112-101," 9 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of slow

1557

in the meaning defined at transitive sense

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

slow Synonyms

Synonyms

brake, decelerate, retard, slacken;

Antonyms

accelerate, hasten, hurry, quicken, rush, speed (up), step up;

Near Antonyms

drive, encourage, goad, propel, push, spur, stir, urge;

advance, aid, dispatch, ease, expedite, facilitate, forward, further, help;

Related Words

halt, stop;

encumber, hamper, handicap, hinder, hobble, hold back, hold up, impede, inhibit, obstruct, set back, tie up;

arrest, check, constrain, curb, rein, restrain;

baffle, foil, frustrate, thwart;

Synonym Discussion of slow

delay, retard, slow, slacken, detain mean to cause to be late or behind in movement or progress. delay implies a holding back, usually by interference, from completion or arrival.

- bad weather delayed our arrival

retard suggests reduction of speed without actual stopping.

- language barriers retarded their progress

slow and slacken also imply a reduction of speed, slow often suggesting deliberate intention

- medication slowed the patient's heart rate

, slacken an easing up or relaxing of power or effort.

- on hot days runners slacken their pace

detain implies a holding back beyond a reasonable or appointed time.

- unexpected business had detained her

SLOW Defined for English Language Learners

slow

adjective

Definition of slow for English Language Learners

: not moving quickly : not able to move quickly
: not happening quickly : taking more time than is expected or wanted
: not operating quickly

slow

adverb

Definition of slow for English Language Learners

: in a slow way or at a low speed

slow

verb

Definition of slow for English Language Learners

: to begin to move at a lower speed
: to make (something, such as a car) move at a lower speed
: to become slower

SLOW Defined for Kids

slow

adjective \ ˈslō \

Definition of slow for Students

slower; slowest

1 : moving, flowing, or going at less than the usual speed

slow music

Traffic was slow.

2 : taking more time than is expected or desired

We had a slow start on the project.

3 : not as smart or as quick to understand as most people

4 : not active

Business was slow.

5 : indicating less than is correct

My watch is five minutes slow.

6 : not easily aroused or excited

Grandmother is slow to anger.

—

slowly

adverb

—

slowness

noun

slow

verb

Definition of slow for Students

slowed; slowing

: to go or make go less than the usual speed

The car slowed around the corner.

The heavy load slowed the wagon.

Headscratcher for slow

You can slow up and you can slow down. Either way, you're doing the same thing: you're going slower.

slow

adverb

Definition of slow for Students

slower; slowest

: in a slow way

Can you talk slower?

Learn More about slow

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for slow Spanish Central: Translation of slow Nglish: Translation of slow for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of slow for Arabic speakers

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slow

Definition of slow

slowish

slowness

Examples of slow in a Sentence

Recent Examples of slow from the Web

Origin and Etymology of slow

slow Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

slow

Definition of slow

slow vs. slowly

Examples of slow in a Sentence

Recent Examples of slow from the Web

First Known Use of slow

slow Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

slow

Definition of slow

Examples of slow in a Sentence

Recent Examples of slow from the Web

First Known Use of slow

slow Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Synonym Discussion of slow

SLOW Defined for English Language Learners

slow

Definition of slow for English Language Learners

slow

Definition of slow for English Language Learners

slow

Definition of slow for English Language Learners

SLOW Defined for Kids

slow

Definition of slow for Students

slowly

slowness

slow

Definition of slow for Students

Headscratcher for slow

slow

Definition of slow for Students

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