slow

1 of 3

adjective

ˈslō 

1

a

: mentally dull : stupid

a slow student

b

: naturally inert or sluggish

2

a

: lacking in readiness, promptness, or willingness

b

: not hasty or precipitate

was slow to anger

3

a

: moving, flowing, or proceeding without speed or at less than usual speed

traffic was slow

b

: exhibiting or marked by low speed

he moved with slow deliberation

c

: not acute

a slow disease

d

: low, gentle

slow fire

4

: requiring a long time : gradual

a slow recovery

5

: having qualities that hinder rapid progress or action

a slow track

6

a

: registering behind or below what is correct

the clock is slow

b

: less than the time indicated by another method of reckoning

c

: that is behind the time at a specified time or place

7

a

: lacking in life, animation, or gaiety : boring

the first chapter is a bit slow

b

: marked by reduced activity

business was slow

a slow news week

slowish

ˈslō-ish 

adjective

slowness noun

slow

2 of 3

adverb

: slowly

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

slow

3 of 3

verb

slowed; slowing; slows

transitive verb

: to make slow or slower : slacken the speed of

slow a car

—often used with down or up

intransitive verb

: to go or become slower

production of new cars slowed sharply

Synonyms

Adjective

• crawling
• creeping
• dallying
• dawdling
• dilatory
• dillydallying
• dragging
• laggard
• lagging
• languid
• leisurely
• poking
• poky
• pokey
• sluggish
• snaillike
• snail-paced
• tardy
• unhurried

Adverb

• laggardly
• leisurely
• pokily
• slowly
• sluggishly
• tardily

Verb

• brake
• decelerate
• retard
• slacken

Choose the Right Synonym for slow

delay, retard, slow, slacken, detain mean to cause to be late or behind in movement or progress.

delay implies a holding back, usually by interference, from completion or arrival.

bad weather delayed our arrival

retard suggests reduction of speed without actual stopping.

treatment that retards tumor growth

slow and slacken also imply a reduction of speed, slow often suggesting deliberate intention

she closed her eyes and slowed her breathing

, slacken an easing up or relaxing of power or effort.

on hot days runners slacken their pace

detain implies a holding back beyond a reasonable or appointed time.

unexpected business had detained her

Examples of slow in a Sentence

Adjective

The buyers were slow to act, and the house was sold to someone else.

He was a quiet boy who seldom spoke, and some people thought he was a little slow.

Business is slow during the summer.

The first few chapters are slow, but after that it gets better.

Adverb

My computer is working slow.

you need to go slow with this experiment, or you'll make mistakes

Verb

The car slowed and gradually came to a stop.

The extra weight slowed the truck.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The Wi-Fi will always be slow and the gossip will always be fast. —Carly Thomas, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Dec. 2024

Snow has been slow to arrive in Big Bear this year, but the long-term forecast calls for big changes. —Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024

Adverb

In addition to those impacts, and the fact that hurricanes are increasingly moving slower, warming ocean waters due to climate change will give future hurricanes a greater range. —Joe Spring, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Dec. 2024

Start slow and try to limit the number of contacts your feet have with the floor. —Sherri Gordon, Health, 19 Dec. 2024

Verb

With her career milestones stacking up, Glazer is actually focused on slowing things down—at least behind the scenes. —Grace McCarty, SELF, 20 Dec. 2024

Don’t expect the trend of casual-meets-classy to slow any time soon, the food science company IFT says in their 2025 outlook. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English slāw; akin to Old High German slēo dull

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1557, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing slow

• a slow start
• do a slow burn
• go-slow
• got off to a slow start
• quick/slow off the mark
• slow as molasses
• slow boil
• slow cooker
• slow-footed
• slow going
• slow lane
• slow leak
• slow match
• slow motion
• slow news day
• slow on the uptake
• slow-pitch
• slow study
• slow-twitch
• slow virus
• slow-walk
• slow-wave sleep
• slow-witted

Kids Definition

slow

1 of 3 adjective

ˈslō 

1

a

: not quick to understand

a slow learner

b

: stupid

c

: naturally slow-moving

2

a

: unwilling to take prompt action

b

: not easily aroused or excited

was slow to anger

3

a

: moving, flowing, or proceeding without speed or at less than usual speed

traffic was slow

b

: not vigorous or active

a slow fire

c

: taking place at a low rate or over a considerable period of time

slow progress in negotiations

4

: having qualities that hinder or stop rapid progress or action

a slow racetrack

5

a

: registering behind or below what is correct

the clock is slow

b

: that is behind the time at a specified time or place

6

: lacking in activity or liveliness

a slow market

slowish

ˈslō-ish 

adjective

slowly adverb

slowness noun

slow

2 of 3 adverb

: in a slow manner

slow

3 of 3 verb

: to make or go slow or slower

—often used with down or up