slowly

adverb

slow·​ly ˈslō-lē 

: in a slow manner : not quickly, fast, early, rashly, or readily

Slow vs. Slowly: Usage Guide

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

Synonyms

• laggardly
• leisurely
• pokily
• slow
• sluggishly
• tardily

Examples of slowly in a Sentence

Things are slowly getting better.

walked slowly toward the ringing phone

Recent Examples on the Web

Then the horror slowly creeps over his watery eyes as the sauce builds on his tongue. —Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 12 Apr. 2024

In Milwaukee County, where buyers have more listings to choose from, home prices rose more slowly — up 2.1%. —Journal Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2024

As the United States slowly emerged from these economic difficulties, inflation spikes are now resurrecting consumer fear and restraining buying power. —Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024

Haniyeh nodded, looked down at the ground and slowly walked out of the room. —Tia Goldenberg, arkansasonline.com, 11 Apr. 2024

Even experienced runners will need to take it slowly. —Laura Lancaster, Outdoor Life, 11 Apr. 2024

Buzzing ceaselessly with warring ideologies, The Captain’s mind slowly splinters. —Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024

At the start of 2014, the rate reached upwards of 10%, a figure that slowly decreased and reflected more local job opportunities. —Archer Guanco, Daniel Schoenherr, Detroit Free Press, 11 Apr. 2024

This statement-making phenomenon has been slowly making its way up and down the West Coast. —Kelsey Mulvey, Sunset Magazine, 10 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing slowly

• slowly but surely