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low

low

1.0
Not enough in amount or level
  • adjective
  • /loʊ/
translation icon : escaso
  • -Hey, uh-- looks like your right tire's a little low there.
  • low income
  • low levels
  • low rates

They said the price is so low, you can't.

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Examples

  • Not only are music enrollments low, but they have been dropping as well.

    Academic text (2011)
  • And why don't we just keep this volume down to a low level?

  • The prices can be very low for some items.

  • And man, the view, the cost per click was way low like crazy.

  • Costs to students are relatively low, running from $5 an hour to $20 a day.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The first thing that we want to watch is low retail activity.

  • Schools struggled with student attendance, low retention, as well as low academic test scores.

    Academic text (2011)
  • They said the price is so low, you can't.

  • Given the disproportionate disease burden for farmworkers, the low rate of use is of concern.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The cost of living is quite low in this town compared to the capital.

Synonyms

minimal
vslow
196 3.3

Very small in amount or degree

refers to amounts below usual expectations without implying minimality
inadequate
vslow
118 4.4

Not enough or not good enough to do what is needed

describes lacking amount or degree without focusing on standards
slim
vslow
87 2.0

Small in amount or number, not large

describes being below usual or average level rather than only small amounts
insufficient
vslow
86 3.6

Not enough in amount or quality to meet a need

is a general state of being below the usual or expected level
low-level
vslow
33 3.8

Not very strong and present in small amounts

is about being below normal amount or degree overall
scant
vslow
30 5.5

A small amount that is barely enough

expresses a wider lack that may be below usual levels
rock-bottom
vslow
7 4.5

At the lowest possible price or level

indicates being below usual levels but not the absolute lowest
scanty
vslow
2 6.6

A small amount or number that is barely enough

describes being below expected level rather than emphasizing near insufficiency
below par
vslow
  • Informal
1 4.8

Worse than usual or expected in quality, performance and health

describes lack in amount or quality rather than poor health or feeling
subnormal
vslow
1 6.4

Lower than the normal level in amount or quality

is the general term for being less than usual or expected
ultralow
vslow
1 3.6

Very low in amount or level

is the general term for being below usual or expected amount
lowish
vslow
3.0

Slightly below the usual amount, level, or sound

describes being below expected level without the mildness implied here
subaverage
vslow
4.9

Lower than the normal level in quality or performance

refers to being below usual level not limited to averages

Antonyms

1.0

More than usual in amount or strength

Idioms

Act quietly so people do not notice you

20 7.2

Unable to do normal work and activities because of illness or a serious problem

high and low
  • Informal
7 3.6

In many different places

Act in a less honest way to get an advantage

2 7.6

A person who has a low rank in a group or at work

1 3.9

To search everywhere for something that is lost

1 3.3

Cooking at low heat for a long time makes meat tender and adds flavor

Feeling sad and without energy

Compounds

55 4.4

A way of behaving to avoid attention or public notice

52 1.0

A cost lower than normal that makes something affordable

42 2.0

Cheap to buy and easy to afford

33 3.8

Not very strong and present in small amounts

low-interest
  • Specialized
33 3.4

A loan or card that charges only a small extra amount for borrowing money

32 3.0

Planned or made to cost little money

25 3.3

A position with little power in an organization

15 4.1

Areas close to the ground or sea level that often flood

13 2.8

Something that is not good or well made

11 1.4

The time when the sea is at its lowest level

low-cut
  • NSFW
10 3.5

Clothes with a low neckline or back that show more skin

8 3.4

Easy tasks that give quick results

low blow
  • Offensive
8 5.5

A remark or action that unfairly hurts someone's feelings

5 4.3

Happening near the ground or sea level

low profile
  • Specialized
5 3.8

Made to be thin or flat to fit into small spaces

low road
  • Informal
5 7.0

A way of acting that is dishonest or unfair

5 2.5

An eating plan that has little fat and more foods like bread or meat

5 3.9

Calm and gentle, not forceful or pushy

4 3.7

Happening close to the ground

low-resolution
  • Specialized
4 4.6

Showing pictures with few details that look blocky

3 1.0

Milk that has less fat than whole milk

A sound or wave that has long waves and a low pitch

low ebb
  • Informal
3 6.5

A time when energy and success are low

low-level
  • Specialized
2 6.7

Relating to code or systems that work close to the parts of a computer

2 4.0

A building with only one or a few floors and no elevator

low frequency
  • Specialized
2 4.9

A radio frequency between 30 and 300 kilohertz used for communication

2 3.2

A lower setting in a vehicle that gives more power and less speed for starting and climbing

2 3.7

The lowest tide level at the shore or in a river

A way of eating that limits calories to help lose weight or improve health

1 4.3

A space that has little material or few people

low-information
  • Offensive
1 7.3

Someone who has little factual knowledge and follows simple slogans rather than facts

low-voltage
  • Specialized
1 4.2

Using a low amount of electricity to reduce the risk of electric shock

1 6.8

Radio waves below 3 kilohertz that scientists and the military use for long-distance communication and measurement

1 3.7

A position lower than others in work or society

A room or building with a ceiling lower than usual

low-down
  • Slang
1 8.5

True information about something often not widely known

very low frequency
  • Specialized
1 6.5

A range of very low radio waves used for communication over long distances, for example by submarines

1 3.7

A headlight setting that lights the road without blinding other drivers

low density
  • Specialized
1 3.7

A small amount of material in a space like foam or gas

1 3.4

A deep sound that you hear in music or a person's voice

low-birth-weight baby
  • Specialized
1 3.9

A baby born weighing less than 5.5 pounds or 2,500 grams

1 5.1

A small particle in the blood that carries cholesterol and increases heart disease risk when levels are high

1 6.5

Radioactive material from medical tests and hospital procedures that has low radiation and needs safe handling

Homes that have low rent for people with little money

low-pass filter
  • Specialized
1 5.5

A device that lets slow changes in signals pass and reduces fast changes

1 3.7

A deep sound or voice that is not high

A diet that limits how much salt you eat to help control blood pressure

low explosive
  • Specialized
1 7.6

An explosive that burns slowly and does not make a strong shock wave like black powder

1 9.2

A priest leads a short Roman Catholic church service with little or no singing

low comedy
  • NSFW
1 6.7

Funny acting in plays or films that uses physical actions and rude jokes

1 7.9

The Sunday after Easter when churches hold special services

1 3.5

A feeling of being a little sad or down

1 3.9

A baby born weighing less than 5.5 pounds or 2,500 grams

1 3.5

Trousers or jeans that sit low on the hips below the waistline

A way of eating that limits salt to help control high blood pressure

1 5.1

Feeling sad and without much energy

low-sudsing
  • Specialized
1 6.8

Producing few bubbles when mixed with water

high-low
  • Jargon
1 7.0

A type of poker where the pot is split between the highest and lowest hands

A group of about eighty coral islands in French Polynesia that are part of the Tuamotu Islands

A light setting that lights the road ahead without blinding other drivers

A low evergreen bush with glossy leaves and black berries that grows in the southeastern United States

A group of German dialects spoken in northern Germany and parts of the Netherlands and Denmark

Low Latin
  • Specialized
9.9

Forms of Latin used after the ancient period, especially in the Middle Ages

3.0

A low-growing shrub that has sweet dark blue berries in small groups

low brass
  • Specialized
8.4

A metal made mostly of copper that has 30% or less zinc

A low-lying region in western Europe near the North Sea made up of Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands

low vowel
  • Specialized
6.3

A speech sound made with the tongue low in the mouth, like the 'a' in 'cat'

low relief
  • Specialized
7.8

A style of sculpture where shapes stand out a little from a flat background with no part fully separate

A low plant with yellow flowers that have four petals in a cross

4.0

A headlight set to point down to avoid blinding other drivers

low-carbon steel
  • Specialized
3.8

Steel with little carbon that is soft and easy to shape and weld

A small low shrub with sweet dark blue berries

Exercise with gentle movements like swimming or cycling that does not put much stress on the joints

How Much

high
1.0
abundant
77 3.0
adequate
234 2.7
low
1.0
limited
393 2.5
scarce
103 4.8
absent
139 1.0

Surface Forms

low positive
lower comparative
lowest superlative

Etymology

Low meaning 'not enough' grew from the idea of being 'below' or 'not high', so if supplies are 'low' it means the amount is below what you need. That's why 'low' describes small quantities or short supply.