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English (UK)
Cambridge Dictionary Online

Meaning of slow in English

slow
adjective
uk
/sləʊ/ us
/sloʊ/

slow adjective (NOT FAST)

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A1
moving, happening, or doing something without much speed:
a slow runner/driver/reader
She's a very slow eater.
We're making slow but steady progress with the painting.
slow to The government was very slow to react to the problem.
Business is always slow during those months because everyone's on holiday.
Opposites
fast (QUICK)
quick
Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
slow
  • slowYou're so slow - hurry up!
  • leisurelyWe took a leisurely drive along the quiet coast road.
  • unhurriedI like the unhurried pace of life in the countryside.
  • gentleStart off with a gentle jog, then gradually increase your speed.
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More examplesFewer examples
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Slow and moving slowly
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slow adjective (NOT EXCITING)

B2
used to describe a film, book, play, etc. that does not have much excitement and action:
His films are so slow they send me to sleep.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Tedious and uninspiring
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

slow adjective (NOT CLEVER)

A person might be described as slow if they are not very clever and do not understand or notice things quickly:
I feel so slow when I'm with Andrew - he's so much brighter than me.
slow on the uptake I was a bit slow on the uptake there - I didn't follow his reasoning at all.
See also
slow-witted
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Stupid and silly
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slow adjective (TIME)

If a clock or watch is slow, it shows a time that is earlier than the real time:
That clock is ten minutes slow.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Watches & clocks
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slow adjective (COOL)

(of an oven) cool:
Bake in the centre of a very slow oven, 150°C or 310°F, for an hour and a quarter.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Measurements of temperature
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See also

(as) slow as molasses

Related word

slowness
slow
verb [ I or T ]
uk
/sləʊ/ us
/sloʊ/
C2
to reduce speed or activity, or to make something do this:
Business development has slowed in response to the recession.
slow to a crawl Traffic slows to a crawl (= goes so slowly it almost stops) during rush hour.
The pilot was asked to slow his approach to the runway.
Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
to get slower
  • slow downA car slowed down and stopped beside her.
  • slowEconomic growth slowed sharply in the spring.
  • decelerateShe decelerated as soon as she saw the police vehicle.
  • lose speedAs the car ran out of petrol, we lost speed and rolled to a stop.
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More examplesFewer examples
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Increasing and decreasing speed of motion
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Idioms

slow someone's roll
slow your roll

Phrasal verbs

slow (someone/something) down/up
slow down
slow
adverb
uk
/sləʊ/ us
/sloʊ/
at a slow speed:
I can't walk any slower.
slow-moving traffic
a slow-burning candle
mainly US He drives too slow!
Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
slowly
  • slowlyI got out of bed and walked slowly to the door.
  • slowGo slower! I can't keep up.
  • at a slow paceThey are easy hikes, done at a slow pace.
  • at a slow speedYou only have to hit a pedestrian at a slow speed to kill them.
  • at slow rateThe economy grew at a slower rate during the second half of the year.
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SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Slow and moving slowly
See more results »
(Definition of slow from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

slow | American Dictionary

slow
adjective [ -er/-est only ]
us
/sloʊ/
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lacking speed; not fast or quick:
He was far too slow to catch me.
We were slow to understand how we could use computers in our work.
A clock or watch that is slow shows a time that is earlier than the correct time.
A person who is slow does not understand or learn things quickly:
a class for slower students

slow

adverb [ -er/-est only ] us
/sloʊ/
You’re driving too slow.

slowly

adverb us
/ˈsloʊ·li/
The medication took effect slowly.
slow
verb [ I/T ]
us
/sloʊ/
to reduce speed or activity, or to make something do this:
[ I ] Traffic slowed to a crawl.
[ T ] There's still a chance to slow the spread of the disease.

Phrasal verb

slow down (something)
(Definition of slow from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

slow | Business English

slow
adjective
uk
/sləʊ/ us
Add to word list Add to word list
happening without much speed:
slow growth/progress/recovery Small companies are making a slow recovery from the recession.
Growth in this sector has been slower than predicted.
Despite a rather slow start, the month ended well.
The slow pace of recovery in the labor market could not be denied.
be slow to do sth The company was slow to react to changing market conditions.
if business, sales, etc. are slow, there is very little activity:
Business is always slow during summer vacation.
slow months/season
slow
verb [ I or T ]
uk
/sləʊ/ us
to become slower or less active or to make something slower or less active:
The market is slowing to some extent.
slow dramatically/sharply/significantly Consumer spending has already slowed quite sharply.
Economic growth is expected to slow.
Their aim is to slow inflation in the housing market.
Several unexpected problems slowed progress on the project.

Phrasal verb

slow (sb/sth) down/up
(Definition of slow from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)
What is the pronunciation of slow?
 

Translations of slow

in Chinese (Traditional)
慢的，緩慢的, （電影、書籍、戲劇等）情節拖泥帶水的，索然無趣的, 遲鈍的，愚笨的…
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in Chinese (Simplified)
慢的，缓慢的, （电影、书籍、戏剧等）情节拖沓的，索然无趣的, 迟钝的，愚笨的…
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in Spanish
lento, poco despierto, estar atrasado…
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in Portuguese
lento, vagaroso, estar atrasado…
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in Marathi
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in Italian
हळू / मंदगती / संथ, हळू करणे, मंदावणे…
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ゆっくりとした, 遅い, のろい…
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yavaş, ağır, (saat) geri…
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lent/lente, routinier/-ière, qui retarde…
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lent, reduir la velocitat (de)…
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langzaam, achter, vaart (doen) minderen…
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நகரும், நடக்கிறது, அல்லது அதிக வேகம் இல்லாமல் ஏதாவது செய்வது…
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(हिलने, घटित होने, करने में) धीमा…
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ધીમું, મંદ…
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langsom, bagud, sætte farten ned…
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långsam, sakta, sen…
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perlahan, lambat, lemah…
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langsam, nachgehen, schwerfällig…
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langsom, treg, sen…
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سستی, سست روی, کم ہونا…
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повільний, нешвидкий, такий…
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మెల్లగా : నిదానంగా, మందగించు / కార్యాచరణ వేగాన్ని తగ్గించు లేదా దేనిచేతనైనా ఇది చేయించు…
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ধীর, মন্থর, মন্থর হওয়া…
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pomalý, zpožďující se, zpomalit…
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lambat, terlambat, kurang cerdas…
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ช้า, ช้ากว่าเวลาจริง, หัวไม่ไว…
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chậm chạp, chậm (thời gian), trì độn…
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wolny, powolny, ≈ spóźniać się…
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느린, 속도를 늦추다…
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lento, rallentare, indietro…
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slovenliness
slovenly
Slovenský Čuvač
Slovenský Kopov
slow
slow (someone/something) down/up phrasal verb
slow burn
slow burner
slow city

Word of the Day

comfort zone

UK
/ˈkʌm.fət ˌzəʊn/
US
/ˈkʌm.fɚt ˌzoʊn/

a situation in which you feel comfortable and in which your ability and determination are not being tested

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