low
[adjective]
Synonyms:
- small, little, short, squat, stunted
- inferior, deficient, inadequate, poor, second-rate, shoddy
- coarse, common, crude, disreputable, rough, rude, undignified, vulgar
- dejected, depressed, despondent, disheartened, downcast, down in the dumps (informal), fed up, gloomy, glum, miserable
- ill, debilitated, frail, stricken, weak
- quiet, gentle, hushed, muffled, muted, soft, subdued, whispered

---

Contrasted words: decent, decorous, proper, seemly, ethical, moral, noble, high, lofty, elevated, enhanced, increased, raised
Related Words: squatty, unelevated, lowbred, rude, scrubby, scruffy, miserable, woebegone, woeful, declining, weak, dizzy, faint, feverish, fallen, reduced, brief, short, mediocre, moderate, atypical, economical, nominal, cut, cut-rate, marked down, slashed

---

English Thesaurus: cheap, low, inexpensive, reasonable, economical, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. low¹ S1 W1 /ləʊ $ loʊ/ adjective (comparative lower, superlative lowest)
[Word Family: adjective: low, lower, lowly; verb: lower; noun: low; adverb: low]
[Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old Norse; Origin: lagr]

1. SMALL AMOUNT/LEVEL/VALUE
a) small, or smaller than usual, in amount, level, or value Antonym : high
low income/pay/wages
families existing on very low incomes
In May, the price of cocoa fell to its lowest level since 1975–76.
Morale has been low since the latest round of job cuts.
In this sort of investment, the risks are fairly low.
low temperatures
the need for low-cost housing
a low-security prison
b) low in something having less than the usual amount of a substance or chemical Antonym : high:
food that is low in calories
low-fat/low-salt etc
low-alcohol beer
c) in the low 20s/50s etc if a number, temperature, or level is in the low 20s, 30s etc, it is between 21 and 23, 31 and 33 etc:
Tonight, temperatures in most areas will be in the low 50s.

2.
HEIGHT
a) having a top that is not far above the ground Antonym : high:
a low wall
a long low building
b) at a point that is not far above the ground or near the bottom of something Antonym : high:
low clouds
The sun was low in the sky now.
Store raw meat on the lowest shelf.
c) below the usual height Antonym : high:
a low bridge
a low ceiling
The river is very low today.

3. STANDARDS/QUALITY bad, or below an acceptable or usual level or quality Synonym : poor Antonym : high:
Their safety standards seem to be pretty low.
Cost-cutting has led to a lower quality of service.
the children’s low achievement in school

4. SUPPLY if you are low on something, or if your supply of something is low, there is not much of it left
be/get/run low (on something)
We’re running low on gas.
Stocks are getting low.

5. VOICE/SOUND
a) not loud:
I heard a low moaning noise.
The volume is too low – turn it up.
a low whisper
b) not high:
a low note

6. LIGHT a light that is low is not bright Synonym : dim:
Use low lighting to give the room a romantic atmosphere.

7. HEAT if you cook something over a low heat or in a low oven, you cook it using only a small amount of heat Antonym : high

8. BATTERY a battery that is low does not have much power left in it

9. CLOTHES a low dress, blouse etc does not cover your neck and the top of your chest ⇒ low-cut

10. UNHAPPY [not before noun] unhappy and without much hope for the future Synonym : depressed:
He was feeling a bit low, so I did my best to cheer him up.
Terry seems to be in rather low spirits today.
⇒ be at a low ebb at ebb¹(2)
—lowness noun [uncountable]

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. low² adverb (comparative lower, superlative lowest)
[Word Family: adjective: low, lower, lowly; verb: lower; noun: low; adverb: low]

1. in or to a low position or level:
He bent low over the engine.
She pulled her hat low down over her eyes.
I had the radio on low.

2. near the ground or the bottom of something:
That plane’s flying too low!
There was a hole low down in the hedge.

3. if you play or sing musical notes low, you play or sing them with deep notes:
Sing those bars an octave lower.

4. be brought low old-fashioned to become much less rich or important
⇒ search/look high and low at high²(6), ⇒ lay somebody low at lay²(20), ⇒ lie low at lie¹(7)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

III. low³ noun [countable]
[Word Family: adjective: low, lower, lowly; verb: lower; noun: low; adverb: low]

1. a low price, level, or value Antonym : high
fall to/hit/reach etc a new low (=be worth less than ever before)
The euro has fallen to a new low against the dollar.
Public confidence in the legal system is at an all-time low (=much lower or worse than ever before).

2. a very difficult time in someone’s personal or working life
highs and lows (of something) (=good times and bad times)
the highs and lows of an actor’s life

3.
a) the lowest point that the temperature reaches during a particular time Antonym : high:
The overnight low will be 8°C.
b) an area of low pressure in the air Antonym : high:
a low moving in over the Pacific

4. the lowest of the low
a) informal someone you think is completely unfair, cruel, immoral etc
b) someone from a low social class – often used humorously

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

IV. low⁴ verb [intransitive] literary
[Language: Old English; Origin: hlowan]
if cattle low, they make a deep sound

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

low
adj.
I. not far above the ground
VERBS be, look, seem The windows look very low to me.
ADV. extremely, very The river was extremely low for winter.
a bit, fairly, quite, rather

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

low
II. small in degree/amount
VERBS be, look, seem | become, get, run Our stocks of food were getting low. Supplies ran low.
remain, stay | keep sth The government wants to keep taxes low.
ADV. extremely, very The failure rate is extremely low.
comparatively, fairly, quite, rather, relatively
PREP. in This dish is very low in fat.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

low
noun
ADJ. all-time, new, record The pound has hit a new low against the dollar.
VERB + LOW fall to, hit, reach, sink to
PREP. at a ~ Morale is at an all-time low.
PHRASES highs and lows He had experienced all the highs and lows of an actor's life.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

cheap costing very little money, or less than you expected:
My shoes were really cheap – they only cost £25.
The cheapest way to get to Chicago is to take the bus.
cheap flights
low low prices, rents, and fees do not cost a lot of money. Do not use cheap with these words:
Why is the share price so low?
You could get equally good accommodation elsewhere at a lower rent.
inexpensive especially written not expensive – use this especially about things that are of good quality, even though they do not cost a lot:
The furniture is inexpensive, but well made.
a simple inexpensive meal
a hotel that offers air-conditioned rooms at relatively inexpensive prices
reasonable a reasonable price seems fair because it is not too high:
The restaurant serves good food at reasonable prices.
Only £25 a night? That sounds reasonable.
economical cheap because you do not need to use a lot of money or fuel:
an economical car
It is usually more economical to buy in large quantities.
affordable cheap enough for most people to be able to buy or pay for:
affordable housing
Single mothers often have trouble finding affordable childcare.
The shop sells designer fashions at affordable prices.
competitive competitive prices and rates are as low as those charged by other shops or companies:
I think you’ll find our prices are extremely competitive.
The hotel offers a high standard of service at very competitive rates.
budget [only before noun] budget flights, airlines, hotels etc have specially low prices:
You can get a budget flight to Amsterdam for only £19.
a list of budget hotels for under $50 a night
budget accommodation for families with young children
be good/great value to be worth at least the price you pay for it, so that you feel pleased and think you have spent your money well:
The meals at Charlie’s Pizza are really good value.
The holiday is great value for money.
be a bargain informal to be extremely cheap:
I got this shirt when I was in Indonesia. It was a real bargain.
competitive price/rate

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

low a low voice or sound is not high on the scale of musical sounds:
I can’t sing the low notes.
He’s got quite a low singing voice.
Boys’ voices usually become much lower as they get older.
deep a deep voice or sound is low, strong, and pleasant:
He has a lovely deep voice.
The engine has a wonderfully deep sound to it, like it’s ready to race.
husky a husky voice is deep, quiet, and rough-sounding, especially in a way that is attractive:
Monroe sang 'Happy Birthday, Mr President’ in a slow husky voice.
His voice dropped to a husky whisper.
gravelly a gravelly voice is very low and rough sounding:
The singer is famous for his gravelly voice.
dark used about a colour that is strong and fairly close to black:
a dark blue suit
His eyes are dark brown.
rich used about a colour that is fairly dark in a way that gives a pleasant feeling of warmth:
The walls were painted a rich red colour.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

pay to give someone money for something you are buying from them, or a service they are providing:
I paid a lot of money for that computer.
You have to pay to park your car.
meet the cost of something to pay for something for someone else, or to provide the money needed to do something:
We will meet the cost of your travelling expenses.
The cost will be met from public donations.
foot the bill to pay for something for someone else, especially when you do not want to, or do not think that you should:
As usual, the taxpayer will have to foot the bill.
pick up the tab informal to pay for something:
My company will pick up the tab for all moving costs.
fork out/shell out informal to pay a lot of money for something because you have to and not because you want to:
He had to fork out £500 to get his car fixed.
Fans are having to shell out roughly $65 per seat for football games.
settle the bill to pay the bill after eating a meal, staying in a hotel etc:
She went down to the hotel lobby to settle the bill.
give especially spoken to pay a particular amount of money for something – used especially when saying how much you are willing to pay:
How much will you give me for the car?
I’ll give you $50 for the lot (=for everything).
something is on somebody spoken used when saying that someone else will pay for your meal, drinks etc:
Order whatever you like – this is on me!
The drinks are on the house (=the bar, restaurant etc will let you have them for free).
Put your money away – the drinks are on us.
low
Nurses often work long hours for relatively low pay.
good
The work was steady and the pay was pretty good.
higher/better
Workers demanded higher pay.
equal pay (=the same pay for the same type of work)
The women at the factory went on strike for equal pay.
basic pay British English, base pay American English (=not including overtime pay or bonuses)
The basic pay is so low you end up doing lots of overtime.
take-home pay (=after tax etc has been taken away)
Their average take-home pay is just £120.
overtime pay (=for extra hours that you work)
Their bosses had to approve any overtime pay.
holiday pay British English, vacation pay American English (=pay when you are on holiday)
Servicemen and women get no holiday pay, no overtime, no weekends off.
sick pay (=pay when you are ill)
As a self-employed person, you get no sick pay or benefits.
maternity pay (=pay while a woman takes time off to have a baby)
If you have worked here a year, you are entitled to 3 month’s maternity pay.
redundancy pay British English, severance pay American English (=pay when there is no longer a job for you)
We invested our redundancy pay in a new business venture.
full pay
They were immediately suspended on full pay pending a full inquiry.
half pay
In 1822 he retired from the army as captain on half pay.
a pay increase
Teachers will be awarded a 6% pay increase this year.
a pay rise British English, pay raise American English
If you get promoted, will you get a pay rise?
a pay cut
Staff were asked to take a 10% pay cut.
a rate of pay (also a pay rate) (=the amount paid every hour, week etc)
Many workers in the catering industry are on low rates of pay.
a pay cheque British English, a paycheck American English (=the money you earn every week or month)
Stretching your money until the next pay cheque arrives often becomes difficult.
a pay freeze (=when no one’s pay is increased)
Ministers have approved a public sector pay freeze.
a pay claim British English (=official request for more pay)
The miners voted for strike action in support of their pay claim.
a pay dispute (=disagreement between an employer and employees about pay)
Many flights were cancelled because of a pilots’ pay dispute.
pay and conditions (=the conditions in which people work and the pay they get)
The unions are demanding better pay and conditions.
income money that you receive from working, investments etc:
families on a low income
salary the pay that professional people such as teachers or lawyers earn every year:
a salary of $65,000 a year
wages the pay that someone earns every hour or every week:
Her wages barely cover the rent.
bonus money added to someone’s pay, as a reward for good work or as a reward when the company does well:
The company pays an attendance bonus – if you go 30 days without being late or absent, you get the bonus.
earnings all the money that you earn by working:
In a good year, a bonus can double an executive’s earnings.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

quiet not making a loud sound:
I heard a quiet voice behind me.
a car with a quiet engine
low quiet – especially because you do not want people to hear or be disturbed:
Doug was on the phone, speaking in a low voice.
I turned the volume down low.
soft quiet and pleasant to listen to:
Soft music was playing in the background.
His voice was soft and gentle.
silent not making any sound at all:
a silent prayer
silent laughter
The machines were virtually silent.
hushed deliberately quiet because you do not want people to hear – used about people’s voices:
They were talking about money in hushed tones.
The doctor’s voice was hushed and urgent.
faint quiet and difficult to hear because it comes from a long way away:
The men went ahead and their voices got fainter and fainter.
the faint sound of bells
muffled difficult to hear, for example because the sound comes from another room or someone’s mouth is covered by something:
Muffled voices were coming from downstairs.
the muffled sound of someone crying
dull [only before noun] a dull sound is not loud – used especially about the sound of something hitting another thing:
He hit the ground with a dull thud.
inaudible too quiet to hear:
The sound is inaudible to the human ear.
Her answer came in an almost inaudible whisper.
peaceful (also tranquil especially written) quiet in a pleasant and relaxing way:
Life’s more peaceful in the countryside.
The hotel is set in tranquil surroundings.
sleepy [only before noun] quiet – used about a town or village where there are not many people and very little happens:
a sleepy fishing village
taciturn /ˈtæsətɜːn, ˈtæsɪtɜːn $ -ɜːrn/ formal not talking much and seeming a little unfriendly or bad-tempered:
He found Vaughn a taciturn and rather difficult person.
reticent unwilling to talk to other people, especially about a particular subject:
She’s always been reticent about her early life.
a man/woman of few words someone who does not talk much, especially because they only speak when there is something important to say:
My father was a man of few words, but when he spoke everyone listened.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

rent to pay money to use a house, room, vehicle, piece of equipment, area of land etc:
He rented a room in a house on the Old Kent Road.
They flew out to New York and rented a car at the airport.
hire British English to pay money to use a car or a piece of clothing or equipment for a short period of time:
Why don't we hire a van for the day?
You can hire suits for weddings.
lease to have a legal agreement under which you pay money to a person or company in order to use a building, area of land, vehicle, piece of equipment etc for a fixed period of time :
They leased the offices from an American company.
The car is leased from BMW.
rent/rent something out to allow someone to use a house, room, vehicle, piece of equpiment, area of land etc in return for money:
She rents the flat out to students.
let/let something out to allow someone to use a room, house, building etc in return for money:
Some people don't want to let rooms to foreigners.
They let the house out while they were on holiday.
lease/lease something out to make a legal agreement which allows a person or company to use something that you own for a fixed period of time:
Santa Clara ' s Redevelopment Agency leased the existing city golf course to developers.
high
Rents in the city centre are very high.
low
Our workers get low rents and other advantages.
exorbitant (=extremely high)
Some landlords charge exorbitant rents.
fixed
The rent is fixed for three years.
affordable (=which people can easily pay)
The government plans to provide more homes at affordable rents.
the annual/monthly/weekly rent
Our annual rent is just over $15000.
ground rent British English (=rent paid to the owner of the land that a house, office etc is built on)
There is an additional ground rent of £30 per month.
a peppercorn rent British English (=an extremely low rent)
The colonel let us have the cottage for a peppercorn rent.
back rent (=rent you owe for an earlier period)
Mrs Carr said she is still owed several thousand dollars in back rent.
the rent is due (=it must be paid at a particular time)
The rent is due at the beginning of the week.
pay the rent
She couldn’t afford to pay the rent.
increase/raise the rent (also put up the rent British English)
The landlord wants to put up the rent.
fall behind with the rent/get behind on the rent (=fail to pay your rent on time)
You could be evicted if you fall behind with the rent.
collect the rent
His job is to collect the rents from the tenants.
the rent increases/goes up
The rent has gone up by over 50% in the last two years.
a rent increase
How can they justify such big rent increases?
rent arrears British English (=money that you owe because you have not paid your rent)
The most common debts were rent arrears.
a rent book British English (=a book that shows the payments you have made in rent)
cost the amount of money you need to buy or do something. Cost is usually used when talking in a general way about whether something is expensive or cheap rather than when talking about exact prices:
The cost of running a car is increasing.
the cost of raw materials
price the amount of money you must pay for something that is for sale:
They sell good-quality clothes at reasonable prices.
the price of a plane ticket to New York
value the amount of money that something is worth:
A new kitchen can increase the value of your home.
charge the amount that you have to pay for a service or to use something:
Hotel guests may use the gym for a small charge.
bank charges
fee the amount you have to pay to enter a place or join a group, or for the services of a professional person such as a lawyer or a doctor:
There is no entrance fee.
The membership fee is £125 a year.
legal fees
fare the amount you have to pay to travel somewhere by bus, plane, train etc:
I didn’t even have enough money for my bus fare.
fare increases
rate a charge that is set according to a standard scale:
Most TV stations offer special rates to local advertisers.
toll the amount you have to pay to travel on some roads or bridges:
You have to pay tolls on many French motorways.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

small not large in size, amount, or effect:
a small boat
small businesses
a small amount of money
small changes
little [usually before noun] small – used about objects, places, and living things. Used especially with other adjectives to show how you feel about someone or something:
It’s a very pretty little town.
The poor little dog has hurt its leg.
The cake was decorated with little flowers.
low used about prices, rents, levels, or standards:
People on low incomes are finding it difficult to pay fuel bills.
The crime rate in the area is relatively low.
slight [usually before noun] small and not very important or not very noticeable:
a slight problem
There’s been a slight improvement in his health.
a slight increase in sales
minor small and not important or not serious:
minor injuries
We’ve made some minor changes to the program.
compact small – used about places, buildings etc in which space is used effectively, or about phones, cameras, cars etc which are designed to be much smaller than usual:
The apartments are very compact.
a compact camera
It is a pleasant and compact city.
poky especially British English used about a room, house etc that is too small:
a poky bedroom
a poky flat
cramped used about a space, room, or vehicle that is too small because people do not have enough room to move around:
They all lived together in a cramped apartment.
The car feels cramped with four adults in it.
tiny very small – used about objects, numbers, or amounts:
a tiny island
Dairy foods provide your body with a tiny amount of vitamin D.
teeny informal very small - used for emphasis:
I'll just have a teeny bit of cream.
There's just one teeny little problem.
a teeny little house
minute extremely small and extremely difficult to see or notice:
They found minute traces of poison in his body.
The differences are minute.
minute creatures
miniature a miniature camera, watch, railway etc is made in a very small size. A miniature horse, dog etc is bred to be a very small size:
The spy used a miniature camera.
the fashion for miniature pets
microscopic extremely small and impossible to see without special equipment:
microscopic organisms
microscopic particles of dust
minuscule /ˈmɪnəskjuːl, ˈmɪnɪskjuːl/ extremely small in a surprising way:
She was wearing a minuscule bikini.
The threat from terrorism is minuscule compared to other risks in our lives.
itty-bitty/itsy-bitsy [only before noun] American English informal very small:
An itty-bitty little bug crawled across his forehead.
We stayed at some itty-bitty hotel in a back street.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

low
̈ɪləu
See: lay low , lie low

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲