Narrow vs Thick is one thin is zero

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Narrow

Top 2,000 (common)A2adjective

Thick is one thin is zero

Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Narrow
 NarrowThick is one thin is zero
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˈnærəʊ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈnærəʊ/"]/🇬🇧 //θɪk//🇺🇸 //θɪk//
Meaningnot wide; thinThick means something is wide. Thin means something is narrow.
ExampleThe alley was too narrow for a car to pass through.The thick textbook was hard to carry.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR levelA2-
Part of speechadjective
Collocationsbe, look, seem, extremely, fairly, very, be, seem, become, extremely, fairly, very, in, be, seem, become, extremely, fairly, very, inthick fog, thin air, thick layer, thin crust, thick skin
Antonymswide, broad, expansive-
Common mistakes'Narrowly' confused with 'narrow', 'Narrow' used incorrectly as a verb, 'Narrow' used to describe emotional states instead of physical spacesMixing up the meanings of 'thick' and 'thin'., 'Thick' used incorrectly to describe something not wide., 'Thin' used to mean something that is not long.
Usage notesUse '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.Used in informal contexts, often to emphasize the contrast between two different states. Not used in formal writing.

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Thick is one thin is zero

Frequently asked questions: Narrow vs Thick is one thin is zero

What's the difference between Narrow and Thick is one thin is zero?

Narrow: not wide; thin Thick is one thin is zero: Thick means something is wide. Thin means something is narrow.

Which is more common: Narrow and Thick is one thin is zero?

Narrow is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Narrow: The alley was too narrow for a car to pass through. Thick is one thin is zero: The thick textbook was hard to carry.

Can I use Narrow and Thick is one thin is zero interchangeably?

Not always. Narrow and Thick is one thin is zero are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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