Word of the Day: Low
The word “low” is the opposite of “high.” If something is low, it’s not far from the ground:
- Ducks fly low to the ground.
- Towards evening, the sun is lower in the sky.
- Temperatures are low in the winter.
- His pants are too low. He needs to pull up his pants. (low pants = sagging. This is a trend among teens.)
Sometimes the word “low” is used for an insufficient amount:
- Your tires are low. They need more air.
- His salary is too low. He needs more money.
- We’re low on milk. We need to get some at the store.
- My car is low on gas. I need to fill up.
- Their income is too low to buy a house at this time.
It’s possible to use “low” when describing an opinion:
- She has a low opinion of her boss.
- The candidate’s favorability ratings are low. Few people trust him.
- She suffers from low self-esteem. (She lacks confidence or doesn’t think highly of herself.)
- That was a low thing to do. (That wasn’t very nice.)
To make something low is to lower it or bring it down. The word “lower” is a verb:
| simple | past | past participle |
|---|---|---|
|
lower
|
lowered
|
lowered
|
- The mechanic lowered the car on the lift when he finished his work.
- Some members of government want to lower the tax rate paid by middle-income Americans.
- The college lowered the number of applicants it would accept for next year.
- The minimum voting age in the United States was lowered from 21 to 18 in the 1970s.
- Steel beams were lowered into place by a large crane.
Essential English Dictionary
Visit the Popular English Words Beginning with L page to see the list of all words starting with letter L. For seeing the HiCafe dictionary, visit the Popular English Words with Meaning page.
