low

1 of 4adjective

/loʊ/

Forms:lower,lowest

not extending far upward

A low hedge bordered the pathway.
The toddler struggled to reach the low shelf.
The cottage had a low roof covered in moss.
She ducked under the low doorway.
The low fence was easy to climb over.

Antonyms:

high

small or below average in degree, value, level, or amount

She was raising three kids on a low income.
This milk is low in fat.
Their energy levels were low after the hike.
The town has a low crime rate.
That dish is surprisingly low in calories.

Synonyms:

exiguous deficient limited narrow spare scant insufficient lacking meager scarce puny paltry short inadequate

Antonyms:

high

of a very poor or inferior condition or quality

The report was rejected due to its low content quality.
They lived in a building with low safety standards.
The furniture was made from low materials that wore out quickly.
That brand is known for its low durability.
Low workmanship ruined what could have been a beautiful piece.

Synonyms:

small lowly humble poor modest

experiencing a state of deep sadness or discouragement

I was feeling low after the news.
He had a low moment during recovery.
She said she was low on the phone.
That illness made him feel very low.
He was low for may months after his mother's death.

Synonyms:

damp blue down in the mouth down(p)downhearted sad depressive downcast down dispirited woeful melancholy gloomy low-spirited depressed unhappy grim

geographically located near the equatorial region, typically within the tropics

The warming effect is strongest at low latitudes.
Hurricanes often form in low regions near the equator.
The island lies at a low latitude.
Low areas receive intense sunlight year-round.
Farming is year-round in low latitudes.

Synonyms:

equatorial tropic tropical

(of a pitched ball) thrown or moving at a height below what is considered a fair or standard level

He struck out trying to hit a low curveball.
The umpire called the pitch low.
The pitcher threw a low fastball.
The batter watched the low slider go by.
That was a low pitch, clearly below the knees.

Synonyms:

dropping

(of clothing) designed with a neckline that dips to show more of the upper chest or cleavage

She wore a dress with a low neckline.
The blouse was too low for a formal setting.
That top has a very low cut in front.
Her gown had a low back and delicate straps.
The low bodice accentuated her collarbone.

Synonyms:

low-necked revealing plunging low-cut decollete

(of footwear) designed to cover only the foot and not the ankle or leg

She wore low oxfords with her suit.
He preferred low sneakers for comfort.
Those boots are too low for hiking.
The uniform requires low shoes, not boots.
He swapped his hiking boots for low trainers at the gym.

(of a river or lake) having less water than usual

The river was low this summer.
Fishing was poor because the lake was low.
The low tide exposed the rocks.
Boats couldn't pass due to the low water level.
The stream remained low despite recent rainfall.

Synonyms:

shallow

(of a sound or voice) deep in tone or soft in volume

His low voice was hard to hear.
She spoke in a low whisper.
The music played at a low volume.
A low hum filled the room.
His low murmur calmed the child.

Synonyms:

sonorous low-pitched dark deep rich

Antonyms:

high

(of a vowel) articulated by positioning the tongue down and the mouth open

The word contains a low vowel sound.
In "cat," the /æ/ is a low vowel.
Low vowels require more jaw opening.
Phonetic charts list /ɑ/ as a low vowel.
He emphasized the low vowel in the dialect.

Synonyms:

low-toned

not having enough of something necessary or expected

They were low on fuel.
She felt low on energy after a long day at work.
The troops were low on ammunition.
We're low on batteries, so bring extras just in case.
The campers were low on supplies after a week in the forest.

Synonyms:

exiguous deficient limited narrow spare scant insufficient lacking meager scarce puny paltry short inadequate

of minor significance, status, or rank

He had a low-status job at the company.
The work was seen as low in prestige.
She began in a low position but rose quickly.
Low-ranking officials were blamed.
They offered low wages for labor roles.

Synonyms:

worse crushed broken humbled inferior humiliated

lacking moral integrity or showing unethical behavior

He used a low trick to win the case.
That was a low move, even for him.
They employed low tactics to discredit her.
His low cunning fooled them all.
She avoided his low offers.

Synonyms:

miserable scurvy scummy abject low-down

(of an opinion) expressing a negative view or low regard for something or someone

He had a low opinion of his abilities.
She spoke with low regard for their work.
I didn't expect such a low assessment from him.
She formed a low impression of the company after the interview.
His low opinion of politicians was obvious in his speech.

Synonyms:

unfavorable

appearing in a way that avoids notice or prominence

They kept a low profile after the scandal.
He maintained a low presence in the media.
The witness stayed in a low location.
She dressed in low colors to stay unnoticed.
She maintained a low profile throughout the trial.

Synonyms:

inconspicuous

operating at a reduced pace or gear level

The car was in low gear climbing the hill.
He started in low gear to avoid slipping.
Trucks use low gears on steep slopes.
That machine runs best at low settings.
Low gears are useful for towing.

Synonyms:

slow

primitive or early in form, function, or evolution

Bacteria are considered low organisms.
That insect is a low life form.
Low technology dominates in that region.
These are low stages of evolution.
The research focused on low species.

Synonyms:

rudimentary first primitive prime primary early original initial

marked by simplicity or minimalism in religious practice or belief

They attended a low-church Anglican service.
The ceremony had a low tone throughout.
He prefers a low liturgy without ritual.
The priest conducted a low service.
Her church is known for its low traditions.