Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Not high or tall; having a small distance from the bottom to the top: Used to describe physical height or elevation.
   • Below average in amount, extent, or intensity: Used for quantities, levels, degrees, or volume.
   • Of inferior rank, quality, or character: Describing something considered humble, modest, or contemptible.
   • Depressed or dejected in mood: Feeling sad, gloomy, or lacking in spirit.
   • Deep in pitch: Used to describe a sound or voice that is not high.

2. Noun:

   • A low point, level, or figure: The smallest or least amount recorded or possible.
   • An area of low atmospheric pressure; a depression: A meteorological term.
   • The gear used for starting or slow speeds in a vehicle: The first or slowest gear.

3. Verb:

   • To make the deep sound characteristic of cattle; to moo.

4. Adverb:

   • At or to a low position, level, or degree: Near the ground or below average.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The plane flew at a low altitude. (Describing small height)
  • We have low supplies of water. (Describing small amount)
  • He comes from a low social background. (Describing inferior rank)
  • She's been feeling very low since her friend moved away. (Describing depressed mood)
  • He spoke in a low, calm voice. (Describing deep pitch)

• Noun:

  • The temperature reached a record low last night. (A low point)
  • A low is approaching from the west, bringing rain. (A weather system)
  • Put the car in low to climb the steep hill. (A gear)

• Verb:

  • The cows low in the field at dusk.

• Adverb:

  • The branches of the willow tree hung low over the water.

Advanced Usage

• "to be brought low": to be reduced in status, health, or fortune.

  • The once-powerful king was brought low by illness and betrayal.

• "to lie low": to hide or keep a low profile to avoid attention.

  • After the scandal, the politician decided to lie low for a few months.

• "to have a low opinion of": to think poorly of someone or something.

  • I'm afraid I have a very low opinion of his professional ethics.

Variants and Related Words

• Lower (verb, adjective): comparative form of 'low'; to reduce or make something lower.
  • Please lower your voice.
• Lowly (adjective): humble in status or manner.
  • He rose from lowly origins to become CEO.
• Low-down (adjective, informal): mean, unfair, or contemptible.
  • That was a low-down trick to play on a friend.

Synonyms

• Short (for height)
• Small, Reduced (for amount)
• Inferior, Humble (for status)
• Depressed, Downcast (for mood)
• Deep, Bass (for sound)

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Low-key (adjective): restrained, modest, or not elaborate.
  • We're having a low-key celebration at home this year.
• Run low (on) (verb phrase): to have a diminishing supply of something.
  • We are running low on printer paper.

Related Idioms

• At an all-time low: at the worst level ever recorded.
  • Morale in the office is at an all-time low.
• High and low: everywhere.
  • I've searched high and low for my keys.
• Stoop low (to do something): to behave in an immoral or dishonorable way to achieve something.
  • I never thought he would stoop so low as to steal from his own family.

Adjective

1. filled with melancholy and despondency
   • gloomy at the thought of what he had to face
   • gloomy predictions
   • a gloomy silence
   • took a grim view of the economy
   • the darkening mood
   • lonely and blue in a strange city
   • depressed by the loss of his job
   • a dispirited and resigned expression on her face
   • downcast after his defeat
   • feeling discouraged and downhearted
2. subdued or brought low in condition or status
   • brought low
   • a broken man
   • his broken spirit
3. no longer sufficient
   • supplies are low
   • our funds are depleted
4. low or inferior in station or quality
   • a humble cottage
   • a lowly parish priest
   • a modest man of the people
   • small beginnings
5. of the most contemptible kind
   • abject cowardice
   • a low stunt to pull
   • a low-down sneak
   • his miserable treatment of his family
   • You miserable skunk!
   • a scummy rabble
   • a scurvy trick
6. used of sounds and voices; low in pitch or frequency
7. unrefined in character
   • low comedy
8. very low in volume
   • a low murmur
   • the low-toned murmur of the surf
9. literal meanings; being at or having a relatively small elevation or upward extension
   • low ceilings
   • low clouds
   • low hills
   • the sun is low
   • low furniture
   • a low bow
10. less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
    • low prices
    • the reservoir is low

Noun

1. the lowest forward gear ratio in the gear box of a motor vehicle; used to start a car moving
2. a low level or position or degree
   • the stock market fell to a new low
3. British political cartoonist (born in New Zealand) who created the character Colonel Blimp (1891-1963)
4. an air mass of lower pressure; often brings precipitation
   • a low moved in over night bringing sleet and snow

Verb

1. make a low noise, characteristic of bovines

Adverb

1. in a low position; near the ground
   • the branches hung low