Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Becoming gradually narrower: Describing something that decreases in width or breadth from one point to another.
   • Tending to constrict freedom: Describing circumstances or conditions that become more restrictive or limiting.

2. Noun:

   • The act of making something narrower: The process of reducing the width of something.
   • A decrease in width: The result or an instance of something becoming less wide.
   • An instance of becoming narrow: A specific place or point where something narrows.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The narrowing path made it difficult to walk side by side.
  • They faced narrowing opportunities in the economic downturn.

• Noun:

  • The narrowing of the road caused a traffic bottleneck.
  • There was a noticeable narrowing in the pipe's diameter.
  • The canyon is famous for its dramatic narrowing near the river.

Advanced Usage

• "Narrowing of the arteries" (Medical Term): Refers to the condition where blood vessels become constricted, often due to plaque buildup.

  • Atherosclerosis involves the narrowing of the arteries.

• "Narrowing down" (Conceptual Process): While "narrowing down" is a phrasal verb, the gerund "narrowing" can be used to describe the process of reducing options or focusing.

  • The narrowing of our choices helped us make a final decision.

Variants and Related Words

• Narrow (adj/verb): The base form. As an adjective: of small width. As a verb: to become or make less wide.
• Narrowly (adverb): By only a small margin; closely.
  • He narrowly avoided an accident.
• Narrowness (noun): The quality or state of being narrow.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Tapering, constricting, tightening.
• Noun: Constriction, tapering, reduction, tightening.

Related Phrases and Concepts

• Narrow escape: A situation where one barely avoids danger or trouble. (This idiom uses the adjective "narrow," not the noun "narrowing").
• Narrow margin: A very small difference or amount. (This idiom uses the adjective "narrow").

Notes on Usage

• The adjective "narrowing" is often used to describe physical shapes (like roads, fingers, or valleys) or abstract concepts (like options, focus, or freedoms).
• The noun "narrowing" typically refers to the process or result of a physical or metaphorical reduction in width or scope.

Adjective

1. (of circumstances) tending to constrict freedom
2. becoming gradually narrower
   • long tapering fingers
   • trousers with tapered legs

Noun

1. the act of making something narrower
2. a decrease in width
3. an instance of becoming narrow