Narrow
UK /["/ˈnærəʊ/"]/US /["/ˈnærəʊ/"]/
Definition
measuring a short distance from one side to the other, especially in relation to length
In simple words: not wide; thin
Examples
- The alley was too narrow for a car to pass through.
- She felt a narrow sense of focus while studying for her exams.
- The narrow path led us to the beautiful garden.
- He has a narrow view of the situation, not considering other opinions.
- The dress was a narrow fit, hugging her figure closely.
Usage notes
Use 'narrow' to describe physical dimensions (like roads or paths) or metaphorical contexts (like narrow ideas). Don't use it for things that are wide or spacious.
Grammar pattern
narrow + object
Memory hint
Think of a 'narrow' alley — it’s thin and tight!
Collocations
- be
- look
- seem
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- be
- seem
- become
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- in
- be
- seem
- become
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- in
Synonyms
- restricted
Antonyms
- wide
- broad
- expansive
Common mistakes
- 'Narrowly' confused with 'narrow'
- 'Narrow' used incorrectly as a verb
- 'Narrow' used to describe emotional states instead of physical spaces