slow-motion

1 of 2

adjective

ˈslō-ˈmō-shən 

: of, relating to, or being movie or video photography in which the action that has been photographed is made to appear to occur slower than it actually occurred

a slow-motion replay

also : slowly moving

a slow-motion dance

slow motion

2 of 2

noun

: slow-motion photography

Examples of slow-motion in a Sentence

Noun

The scene was shot in slow motion.

They showed the goal in slow motion.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Some of the slow-motion shots of the race are about as good as cycling has ever looked. —Jessica Hopkins, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026

The weight of the sediment had the effect of a slow-motion pressure cooker. —Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026

Noun

With upgraded slow motion and tracking, the focus here isn’t reinvention, but pushing more refined imaging and improved automation for everyday creators. —New Atlas, 17 Apr. 2026

Artist Davide Balula had three performers, clad in black and white, dancing in slow motion, apparently carrying out directives for how to arrange themselves that appeared on a screen, as if in a high-concept version of the old Milton Bradley game Twister. —Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 16 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1915, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1924, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for slow-motion

• commotion
• demotion
• devotion
• emotion
• laotian
• promotion
• locomotion
• lotion
• notion
• ocean
• potion

Kids Definition

slow motion

noun

: action in a film or television picture apparently taking place more slowly than it actually occurred

slow-motion adjective