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lower

/ˈləʊə/

adjective

Meaning

  • Situated close to, or even below, the ground or another normal reference plane; not high or lofty.

    "a low wall a low shelf"

  • Of less than normal height; below the average or normal level from which elevation is measured.

    "a low bow"

  • Not high in status, esteem or rank, dignity, or quality. (Compare vulgar.)

    "Now that was low even for you!"

  • Humble, meek, not haughty.

  • Disparaging; assigning little value or excellence.

    "She had a low opinion of cats. He took a low view of dogs."

  • Being a nadir, a bottom.

    "the low point in her career"

  • Depressed in mood, dejected, sad.

    "low spirits"

  • Lacking health or vitality, strength or vivacity; feeble; weak.

    "a low pulse"

  • Small, not high (in amount or quantity, value, force, energy, etc).

    "My credit union charges a low interest rate.   Jogging during a whiteout, with such low temperatures and low visibility, is dangerous.   The store sold bread at low prices, and milk at even lower prices.   The contractors gave a low estimate of the costs.   low cholesterol   a low voltage wire   a low number"

  • Simple in complexity or development; (in several set phrases) favoring simplicity; (see e.g. low church, Low Tory).

    "low protozoan animals, low cryptogamic plants, and other low organisms"

  • (in several set phrases) Being near the equator.

    "the low northern latitudes"

  • (acoustics) Grave in pitch, due to being produced by relatively slow vibrations (wave oscillations); flat.

    "Generally, European men have lower voices than their Indian counterparts."

  • Quiet; soft; not loud.

    "They spoke in low voices so I would not hear what they were saying."

  • Made with a relatively large opening between the tongue and the palate; made with (part of) the tongue positioned low in the mouth, relative to the palate.

  • Lesser in value than other cards, denominations, suits, etc.

    "a low card"

  • Not rich or seasoned; offering the minimum of nutritional requirements; plain, simple.

  • (of an automobile, gear, etc) Designed for a slow (or the slowest) speed.

    "low gear"

Synonyms

blue,
depressed,
down,
gloomy,
miserable,
sad,
unhappy,
abject,
immoral,
scummy,
scurvy,
nether,
underslung,
devalued,
low-level,
reduced,
low-toned,
soft,
deep,
flat,
low-pitched,
short,
small

adverb

Meaning

  • Close to the ground.

  • Of a pitch, at a lower frequency.

  • With a low voice or sound; not loudly; gently.

    "to speak low"

  • Under the usual price; at a moderate price; cheaply.

    "He sold his wheat low."

  • In a low mean condition; humbly; meanly.

  • In a time approaching our own.

  • In a path near the equator, so that the declination is small, or near the horizon, so that the altitude is small; said of the heavenly bodies with reference to the diurnal revolution.

    "The moon runs low, i.e. comparatively near the horizon when on or near the meridian."

verb

Meaning

  • To let descend by its own weight, as something suspended; to let down

    "lower a bucket into a well"

  • To pull down

    "to lower a flag"

  • To reduce the height of

    "lower a chimney or turret"

  • To depress as to direction

    "lower the aim of a gun"

  • To make less elevated

    "to lower one's ambition, aspirations, or hopes"

  • To reduce the degree, intensity, strength, etc., of

    "lower distilled liquors"

  • To bring down; to humble

    "lower one's pride"

  • (lower oneself) To humble oneself; to do something one considers to be beneath one's dignity.

    "I could never lower myself enough to buy second-hand clothes."

  • To reduce (something) in value, amount, etc.

    "lower the interest rate"

  • To fall; to sink; to grow less; to diminish; to decrease

    "The river lowered as rapidly as it rose."

  • To decrease in value, amount, etc.

Synonyms

lessen,
reduce,
die off,
drop,
fall,
fall off,
shrink,
reduce,
cut,
reduce,
reduce,
turn down,
shorten