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

The floor sink for the ice machine was draining slowly during the inspection. —Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 31 May 2024

Her portrayal of the wide-eyed Priscilla Presley, in particular, reminds me of Ana de Armas in Knives Out: An innocent slowly begins to understand how fame and wealth become corrupting forces. —Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 30 May 2024

As Cas slowly became the Winchesters’ biggest advocate, ally, accomplice, and source of fish-out-of-water humor, his relationship with Dean often set the internet ablaze. —Sara Netzley, EW.com, 26 May 2024

The palace slowly faded into history, disappearing into the dirt. —Megan Specia, New York Times, 26 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing slowly

• slowly but surely