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slow

47 4.4

Not quick to learn or understand things

adjective
/sloʊ/

Offensive

: lento

Because of this, many important brain functions are slow to develop in such infants.
a slow learner
slow progress
slow to develop

I'm going to try to take this slow because I'm a little slow.

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Examples

The ringing phone was an interruption, and she was slow to grasp the purpose of the call.

Fiction book (1991)
A third cluster displayed characteristics of slow learners with consistently below-average abilities.

Academic text (1999)
The one population that has been slow to accept new technologies has been senior citizens.

Academic text (1990)
The witness seemed a little slow to me, Mr. Biegler.

Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
Some students can be a little slow to grasp new concepts in mathematics.
His slow understanding of the rules made it hard for him to participate in the game.
Teachers often adapt their methods for children who are slow to learn in a traditional classroom.

Synonyms

dumb

vsslow

Offensive

∞ 3.2

Not able to understand or learn things quickly

focuses on not being quick to learn rather than inability

simple

vsslow

Offensive

106 8.1

Not smart or quick to understand

focuses on quickness of understanding rather than lack of subtlety

dull

vsslow

Offensive

29 2.8

Slow to notice or react to things

refers to lacking quick understanding rather than only low alertness

dense

vsslow

Offensive

28 6.8

Slow to understand what others explain

focuses on quickness of learning rather than depth of insight

dim

vsslow

Offensive

24 6.5

Slow to understand and not quick to learn

is a general term focusing on not quick comprehension rather than personality

obtuse

vsslow

Offensive

17 7.4

Slow to understand what other people mean

focuses on the speed of understanding rather than bluntness of mind

dim-witted

vsslow

Offensive

8 5.6

Not quick to understand or learn

means the same but appears in an alternate written form

dimwitted

vsslow

Offensive

6 5.3

Not very smart and slow to understand things

focuses on not learning or understanding quickly rather than general intelligence

slow-witted

vsslow

Offensive

4 6.7

Not quick to understand or think

means the same but appears in a different word form

thickheaded

vsslow

Offensive

4 7.9

Slow to understand simple ideas or instructions

is a neutral descriptor used without informal insult

slow on the uptake

vsslow

Informal

4 8.5

Not quick to understand new ideas

means the same but appears as a shorter single-word form

doltish

vsslow

Offensive

1 9.3

Not very smart and acting in a foolish way

is a neutral description of poor understanding without foolish tone

beef-witted

vsslow

Offensive

1 9.9

Slow to understand things and often acting foolishly

is a neutral way to mention lack of quick understanding without insult

dullish

vsslow

Offensive

1 5.8

Slow to understand things

expresses a stronger or general lack of quick understanding rather than slightness

soft-witted

vsslow

Offensive

8.8

A person who is slow to understand and easily fooled

focuses on not understanding quickly rather than failing to judge well

thicky

vsslow

Offensive

9.9

A rude word for a person who is slow to understand

is a neutral description of lacking quick understanding without insult

Antonyms

intelligent

548 3.4

Able to think, understand, and learn new things

sharp

210 3.3

Quick at noticing small details and understanding things

Idioms

slow on the uptake

Informal

4 8.5

Not quick to understand new ideas

slow to respond

3 3.5

Takes a long time to answer messages or questions

low and slow

1 3.3

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

slow off the mark

Informal

1 6.7

Not quick to notice things or begin actions

Compounds

slow motion

Specialized

61 3.2

A way of showing action in film or video that happens more slowly than real life

slow-moving

24 2.3

Moving at a low speed and not making quick progress

slow-witted

Offensive

4 6.7

Not quick to understand or think

slow lane

3 3.9

A relaxed way of life with less stress and hurry

slow lane

3 2.7

A lane on a road for cars and trucks moving slower than other traffic

slow march

Formal

2 4.9

A slow, formal walk people make during a ceremony or funeral

slow train

1 2.5

A train that stops at many stations and takes a long time

slow loris

1 8.0

A small night animal like a monkey with big eyes that moves slowly

go-slow

1 7.4

A protest where workers work slowly on purpose to pressure their employer

slow virus

Specialized

1 7.3

A germ that stays inactive in the body for a long time before causing symptoms

slow study

Slur

1 7.2

A person who takes more time to learn new things than others

trainwreck in slow motion

Informal

1 8.6

A situation that gets worse slowly in public while people cannot stop it

slow-wittedness

Offensive

1 8.1

A state when someone is slow to understand things

slow match

Archaic

1 9.9

A cord soaked to burn slowly used to light guns or cannons

slow-burn process

1 5.9

A change that happens slowly over a long time

slow-burn thriller

1 6.1

A film or book that builds tension slowly and ends with a big moment

slow time scale

Specialized

7.9

A way used in models to stretch time so events look slower than real life

slow-burning passion

5.9

A strong feeling of love or interest that grows slowly

slow-burning stove

5.1

A stove that controls the air so the fuel gives heat for many hours

How Quick

quick-witted

5 4.8

sharp

210 3.3

bright

315 1.2

average

∞ 1.0

slow

Offensive

47 4.4

dull

Offensive

29 2.8

Surface Forms

slow positive

slower comparative

slowest superlative

Etymology

Slow comes from the Old English word slaw, which meant 'not quick' or 'lazy' and is related in feeling to the word sloth. So when we say someone is slow to learn, we mean they are not quick to understand.