slow-motion

1 of 2

adjective

: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 See All Example Sentences for slow-motion

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

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slow-motion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slow-motion. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!