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

Game 1 slipped through their fingers in gutting, slow-motion fashion. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025

Pier 17 turned out to be a slow-motion disaster, and Rouse eventually sold its Seaport holdings to General Growth, a few years before that company went bankrupt. —Justin Davidson, Curbed, 21 May 2025

Noun

In his signature lush tone, the host asked the 53-year-old model and actress about the first time she was asked to don the iconic red bathing suit and run in slow motion, the signature image of the most popular TV show to regularly feature swimming malfunctions. —Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 14 May 2025

But when the stakes are systemic—climate, human rights, democracy—slow motion can be catastrophic. —Nell Derick Debevoise, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025

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