A2adjective 1K

Low

UK /["/ləʊ/"]/ US /["/ləʊ/"]/ Pronunciation

Definition

not high or tall; not far above the ground

Listen to definition

In simple words: Not high; a small amount or level.

Examples

• The coffee tastes low in caffeine, making it perfect for a late afternoon drink.
• The mountain was low enough for us to hike without much difficulty.
• His expectations were low, so he was pleasantly surprised by the outcome.
• The low temperature made us want to stay inside.
• She spoke in a low voice to avoid waking the baby.

Usage notes

Use 'low' when talking about levels, prices, or volume. It's neutral and appropriate in most contexts, but avoid using it in very formal settings.

Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Think of a 'low' airplane flying near the ground.

Collocations

• be
• look
• seem
• extremely
• fairly
• very
• be
• look
• seem
• extremely
• fairly
• very
• be
• look
• seem
• extremely
• fairly
• very
• in
• be
• look
• seem
• extremely
• fairly
• very
• in

Synonyms

• poor
• down
• disreputable

Antonyms

• high
• tall
• elevated

Common mistakes

• Using 'low' instead of 'lower' in comparative situations.
• Confusing 'low' with 'few' when referring to numbers.
• Misplacing 'low' when describing emotions, like saying 'I feel lowly' instead of 'I feel low'