Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Used of headlights: Describes a vehicle's headlights when they are set to emit a short-range, downward-directed beam of light to avoid blinding oncoming drivers.
   • Operating on a low setting: Pertaining to the setting of a light source, especially on a vehicle, that provides illumination for a short distance ahead.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • For safety, always use your low-beam headlights in fog or heavy rain.
  • The driver switched to low-beam as another car approached.
  • The law requires the use of low-beams in well-lit urban areas.

Advanced Usage

• "on low-beam": Operating with the headlights set to the low setting.
  • I had to drive the entire way on low-beam because of the traffic.

Variants and Related Words

• Low beams (n): The headlights themselves when set to the low-beam function.
  • My car's low beams are not very bright.
• High-beam (adj): The opposite setting for headlights, providing long-range illumination.
  • Only use your high-beams on dark, empty roads.

Synonyms

• Dipped headlights (n, chiefly British English): Headlights set to a low angle.
• Passing beam (n): Another term for the low-beam setting, emphasizing its use when passing other vehicles.

Related Phrases

• To dim one's headlights: To switch from high-beam to low-beam.
  • Remember to dim your headlights for oncoming traffic.

Adjective

1. used of headlights
   • following with low-beam headlights