situated, placed, or occurring not far above the ground, floor, or base: a low shelf.
of small extent upward; not high or tall: A low wall surrounds the property.
not far above the horizon, as a planet: The moon was low in the sky.
lying or being below the general level: low ground.
designating or pertaining to regions near sea level, especially near the sea: low countries.
bending or passing far downward; deep: a low bow.
(of a garment) low-necked; décolleté: The dress she wore was fashionably low.
rising but slightly from a surface: a low relief on a frieze.
of less than average or normal height or depth, as a liquid or stream: The river is low this time of year.
near the first of a series: a low number.
ranked near the beginning or bottom on some scale of measurement: a low income bracket.
indicating the bottom or the point farthest down: the low point in his creative life.
lacking in strength, energy, or vigor; feeble; weak: to feel low and listless.
providing little nourishment or strength, as a diet.
of small number, amount, degree, force, intensity, etc.: low visibility; a generator with a low output.
indicated or represented by a low number: A low latitude is one relatively near the equator.
soft: subdued; not loud: a low murmur.
Music. produced by relatively slow vibrations, as sounds; grave in pitch.
assigning or attributing little worth, value, excellence, or the like: a low estimate of a new book.
containing a relatively small amount: a diet low in starches.
nearing depletion; not adequately supplied: low on funds; Our stock of towels is low.
depressed or dejected: low spirits.
far down in the scale of rank or estimation; humble: of low birth.
of inferior quality or character: a low grade of fabric; a low type of intellect.
lacking in dignity or elevation, as of thought or expression.
mean, base, or disreputable: low tricks; low companions.
coarse or vulgar: entertainment of a low sort.
Boxing. struck or delivered below a contestant's belt.
Biology. having a relatively simple structure; not complex in organization.
Phonetics. (of a vowel) articulated with a relatively large opening above the tongue, as the vowels of hat, hut, hot, ought, etc.Compare high (def. 23).
Automotive. of, relating to, or operating at the gear transmission ratio at which the drive shaft moves at the lowest speed with relation to the speed of the engine crankshaft, used especially for temporarily overcoming the weight or inertia of the vehicle; first: low gear.
Baseball. (of a pitched ball) passing the plate at a level below that of the batter's knees: a low curve.
Cards. having less value than other cards: a low card.
Metallurgy. having a relatively small amount of a specified constituent (usually used in combination): low-carbon steel.
Chiefly British. holding to Low Church principles and practices.
adverb,low·er,low·est.
in or to a low position, point, degree, etc.: The raiders crouched low in the bushes.
near the ground, floor, or base; not aloft: The plane flew low.
in or to a humble or abject state: Some live low while others live high. She swore she would bring him low.
in or to a condition of depletion, prostration, or death: The gas in the tank is running low.
at comparatively small cost; cheaply: to buy something low and sell it high.
at or to a low pitch, volume, intensity, etc.: to turn the radio low; lights turned down low.
in a low tone; softly: quietly: to speak low.
Archaic. far down in time; late.
noun
something that is low, as ground or prices: numerous marshy lows in the forest; the recent low in the stock market.
Automotive. low gear; first gear.
Meteorology. an atmospheric low-pressure system; cyclone. Compare high (def. 37).
Cards.
the lowest trump card.
a card of small value, or of lower value than other cards.
the lowest score in a game.
a player having such a score.
a point of deepest decline, vulgarity, etc.: a new low in tastelessness.
Slang. a period of intense depression or discomfort, when the effects of a drug have subsided.
Idioms for low
lay low,
to overpower or kill; defeat: to lay one's attackers low.
to knock down; make prostrate.
Informal.to lie low.
lie low,
to conceal oneself: He had to lie low for a while.
to do nothing until the right opportunity develops; bide one's time: Until the dispute is settled, you would do best to lie low.
Origin of low
1
First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English lou(e), loh(e) (adjective and noun), earlier lāh, from Old Norse lāgr (adjective) “low, low down”; cognate with Old Frisian lēge, lēch, Dutch laag, Old High German laege; akin to lie2
SYNONYMS FOR low
13 exhausted, sinking, expiring, dying.
17 quiet.
18 deep.
22 dispirited, unhappy, sad.
23 lowly, insignificant, obscure.
26 ignoble, degraded, servile.
27 rude, crude.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR low ON THESAURUS.COM
ANTONYMS FOR low
1-3 high.
SEE ANTONYMS FOR low ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for low
27. See mean2.
OTHER WORDS FROM low
lowish,adjectivelowness,nouno·ver·low·ness,noun
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH low
low , lowly
Words nearby low
Love your enemies, loving, loving cup, lovingest, loving-kindness, low, low-alcohol, lowan, low-angle shot, Low Archipelago, lowball
Definition for low (2 of 4)
low2
[ loh ]
/ loʊ /
verb (used without object),lowed,low·ing.
to utter the deep, low sound characteristic of cattle; moo.
verb (used with object),lowed,low·ing.
to utter by or as by lowing.
noun
the act or the sound of lowing: the low of a distant herd.
Origin of low
2
First recorded before 1000; Middle English lowen, Old English hlōwan; cognate with Dutch loeien, Old High German hluoen, Old Saxon hlōian; akin to Old Norse Hlōi a proper name (literally, “bellower, shouter”), Latin clāmāre “to call out”
Definition for low (3 of 4)
low3
or lowe
[ loh ]
/ loʊ /
verb (used without object),lowed,low·ing.BritishDialect.
to burn; blaze.
(of a person) to feel strong emotions; glow with excitement.
Origin of low
3
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old Norse loga “to flame,” log “a flame,” akin to German lohen (verb), Lohe (noun), Latin lūcēre (verb), lūx (noun) “light”; see also light1
Definition for low (4 of 4)
Low
[ loh ]
/ loʊ /
noun
David, 1891–1963, English political cartoonist, born in New Zealand.
Juliette, 1860–1927, founder of Girl Scouts in the U.S.
Seth, 1850–1916, U.S. political reformer, educator, and politician.
Rice cakes, while low in fat, are also low in most other nutrients and may have less fiber than similar snacking options like crackers.
The Rise and Fall of the Rice Cake, America’s One-Time Favorite Health Snack|Brenna Houck|September 17, 2020|Eater
The decision partially upheld a lower-court decision to remove Walker from the ballot, but it reversed that court’s decision to keep Hawkins on.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court strikes Green Party presidential ticket from ballot, clearing the way for mail ballots to be sent out|Amy Gardner|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
At low temperatures, most atoms align, magnetizing the material.
How Mathematical ‘Hocus-Pocus’ Saved Particle Physics|Charlie Wood|September 17, 2020|Quanta Magazine
The Commerce Department defines Opportunity Zones as low-income census tracts “where new investments, under certain conditions, may be eligible for preferential tax treatment.”
Opportunity Zones haven’t fully reached their potential, but don’t write them off yet|jakemeth|September 16, 2020|Fortune
It also says it will keep rates low until inflation averages 2% over an unspecified period.
The pulps brought new readers to serious fiction, making it less intimidating with alluring art and low prices.
How Pulp Fiction Saved Literature|Wendy Smith|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Fleshy breasts taunted him from low bikini tops, and fleshy thighs sloped from bikini bottoms.
Powerful Congressman Writes About ‘Fleshy Breasts’|Asawin Suebsaeng|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Like him, they identified the Airbus A320 as an airplane extremely well fitted to low cost airline operations in Asia.
Annoying Airport Delays Might Prevent You From Becoming the Next AirAsia 8501|Clive Irving|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
When they invade new territory, populations are low, and the queen has limited mate options.
Mongooses, Meerkats, and Ants, Oh My! Why Some Animals Keep Mating All in the Family|Helen Thompson|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One report has the AirAsia Airbus flying at a speed very close to what would trigger a low speed stall.
Did Bad Weather Bring Down AirAsia 8501?|Clive Irving|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sweet and low the name sounded from her lips and his heart thrilled.
The Viking Blood|Frederick William Wallace
If his corn yield was low, he would learn how to get a larger yield.
The New Education|Scott Nearing
"I fear that the spending of thousands can do no good," said Mr. Low.
Phineas Redux|Anthony Trollope
Both bluebirds were on a low tree, about a foot apart, uttering constantly the mournful notes I had heard.
In Nesting Time|Olive Thorne Miller
The English minsters are long, narrow and low in contrast with the greater squareness and height of French contemporary churches.
The Brochure Series of Architectural Illustration, vol. 06, No. 12, December 1900|Various
British Dictionary definitions for low (1 of 3)
low1
/ (ləʊ) /
adjective
having a relatively small distance from base to top; not tall or higha low hill; a low building
situated at a relatively short distance above the ground, sea level, the horizon, or other reference positionlow cloud
(in combination)low-lying
involving or containing a relatively small amount of somethinga low supply
(in combination)low-pressure
having little value or quality
(in combination)low-grade
of less than the usual or expected height, depth, or degreelow temperature
(of numbers) small
(of measurements) expressed in small numbers
unfavourablea low opinion
not advanced in evolutiona low form of plant life
deepa low obeisance
coarse or vulgara low conversation
inferior in culture or status
(in combination)low-class
in a physically or mentally depressed or weakened state
designed so as to reveal the wearer's neck and part of the bosoma low neckline
with a hushed tone; quiet or softa low whisper
of relatively small price or monetary valuelow cost
musicrelating to or characterized by a relatively low pitch
(of latitudes) situated not far north or south of the equator
having little or no money
abject or servile
phoneticsof, relating to, or denoting a vowel whose articulation is produced by moving the back of the tongue away from the soft palate or the blade away from the hard palate, such as for the a in English fatherCompare high (def. 22)
(of a gear) providing a relatively low forward speed for a given engine speed
(usually capital)of or relating to the Low Church
adverb
in a low position, level, degree, intensity, etcto bring someone low
at a low pitch; deepto sing low
at a low price; cheaplyto buy low
lay low
to cause to fall by a blow
to overcome, defeat or destroy
lie low
to keep or be concealed or quiet
to wait for a favourable opportunity
noun
a low position, level, or degreean all-time low
an area of relatively low atmospheric pressure, esp a depression
electronicsthe voltage level in a logic circuit corresponding to logical zeroCompare high (def. 40)
Derived forms of low
lowness, noun
Word Origin for low
C12 lāh, from Old Norse lāgr; related to Old Frisian lēch low, Dutch laag
British Dictionary definitions for low (2 of 3)
low2
/ (ləʊ) /
noun Also: lowing
the sound uttered by cattle; moo
verb
to make or express by a low or moo
Word Origin for low
Old English hlōwan; related to Dutch loeien, Old Saxon hlōian
British Dictionary definitions for low (3 of 3)
Low
/ (ləʊ) /
noun
Sir David. 1891–1963, British political cartoonist, born in New Zealand: created Colonel BlimpSee blimp 2