slow

Moving or doing something at a low speed.

• This train is slow.
• Traffic was slower than usual this morning.
• Why is your computer so slow today?

Similar words: unhurried

Opposites: fast, quick

Common phrases: slow train, slow movement, slow computer

Taking a long time to happen, develop, or be completed.

• Recovery was slow.
• The town has seen slow but steady growth.
• Progress became even slower after the funding stopped.

How to use it: slow to do something (The wound was slow to heal.)

Similar words: gradual, lengthy

Opposites: rapid, quick

Common phrases: slow progress, slow recovery, slow growth

Taking longer than other people to understand or learn something.

• I was slow to understand the joke.
• He is a slow learner but remembers things well.
• She felt rather slow when everyone else solved the puzzle.

How to use it: slow to do something (I was slow to realize what she meant.)

Similar words: dull, dim

Opposites: bright, quick

Common phrases: slow learner, slow to understand, slow on something

Having little work, business, news, or other activity.

• It was a slow day at work.
• Business has been slow since the holidays.
• On slow news days, the paper prints more local stories.

Similar words: quiet

Opposites: busy

Common phrases: slow day, slow business, slow afternoon

Showing a time earlier than the correct time.

• This clock is slow.
• My watch was five minutes slow.
• Is the kitchen clock still ten minutes slow?

How to use it: a period of time + slow (My watch is ten minutes slow.)

Similar words: behind

Opposites: fast

Common phrases: five minutes slow, clock is slow

To make someone or something move or work less quickly.

• Slow the car before the corner.
• The rain slowed traffic on the motorway.
• Closing unused programs can stop them from slowing your computer.

How to use it: slow someone/something down (The heavy snow slowed us down.)

Similar words: decelerate

Opposites: accelerate

Common phrases: slow something down, slow the car, slow your pace

To progress less quickly, or prevent someone or something from progressing quickly.

• Growth began to slow.
• The shortage of workers slowed construction.
• Her recovery slowed after she caught another infection.

How to use it: slow something down (Staff shortages slowed the project down.)

Similar words: hinder, delay

Opposites: accelerate

Common phrases: slow progress, slow growth, slow something down

At a low speed or without hurrying.

• Drive slow on this road.
• We took it slow after the operation.
• The old tractor moved slow across the field.

Similar words: slowly

Opposites: fast, quickly

Common phrases: go slow, drive slow, take it slow