slow-motion

1 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or being motion-picture 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
For Evelyn, looking back on her interactions with Bruce is like watching a slow-motion car crash. Joel Khalili, WIRED, 7 Sep. 2023 While the narrative pacing realistically reflects the agonizing sense of slow-motion stress experienced by the characters involved, the wardrobe, camera and lighting play around with a couple of counterintuitive creative gambits. Catherine Bray, Variety, 6 Sep. 2023 Ripa and Consuelos, both 52, even show off their dancing skills in the new opening, with Ripa twirling into her husband during a slow-motion shot. Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 1 Sep. 2023 The music video glorifies the firebrand with dry ice, slow-motion shots, and red lighting. Heather Hunter, Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2023 Every episode of House Hunters is a slow-motion, just barely subtextual fight between the couple at its center. Phillip MacIak, The New Republic, 24 Aug. 2023 The process through which the two choreographers created the slow-motion passage, trading phrases and then shaping them together, is a perfect example of the fluidity of their collaboration. Marina Harss, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2023 There was a slow-motion video camera—similar to the ones used at the Oscars—for posing and a strolling band who, after the cocktail hour, led everyone to the tent for dinner. Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2023 The crowd groaned as slow-motion replays on the stadium screens showed the incident, and, after a delay of several minutes, the yellow card was upgraded to red. John Pye, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Aug. 2023
Noun
Highs: 88-92 Forecast in detail The relief from this heat wave arrives in slow motion with today still a scorcher and temperatures only slipping back to seasonable lower 80s on the weekend. David Streit, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2023 Stars of the Lid’s debut album oozes stealthily into earshot, with drones suffusing the stereo field like an octopus’ ink spreading out in slow motion. Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 28 Aug. 2023 Gracefully walking in slow motion on a diagonal, their faces and chests are bathed in a soft yellow light, as if morning were dawning. Catherine Tharin, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Aug. 2023 Sam Lipman-Stern Photo: HBO Journalism has been called history in a hurry; documentaries have been called news in slow motion. John Anderson, WSJ, 10 Aug. 2023 The post includes a shot of Blue Ivy on stage and two short video clips in slow motion of Blue Ivy hitting her choreography. Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 30 May 2023 With the muzzle on him, all seemed to be in slow motion. Russell Worth Parker, Outdoor Life, 11 May 2023 Watching Ye is like watching a car crash in slow motion. Jodi Guglielmi, Rolling Stone, 6 July 2023 When the group meets Kat’s fiancé (Desmond Chiam) and takes in the hunky, shirtless virgin in sultry slow motion, the look of confusion on Deadeye’s face is priceless. Olivia McCormack, Washington Post, 5 July 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'slow-motion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1915, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1924, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of slow-motion was in 1915

Dictionary Entries Near slow-motion

slow match

slow-motion

slow motion

Cite this Entry

“Slow-motion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slow-motion. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

slow motion

noun
: action in a film or television picture apparently taking place more slowly than it actually occurred
slow-motion adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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