English Reference

Word

slide

US/ˈsɫaɪd/

UK/slˈaɪd/

Irregular verb

Forms

Infinitive

slide

Past

slid

Past participle

slid

Definitions

01to move smoothly

A2 · Elementary

v. to move smoothly over a surface like ice or a polished floor.

v. to move in continuous contact with a smooth or low-friction surface.

“The children loved to slide across the frozen pond in their boots.”

“The heavy glass door began to slide effortlessly along its track once the rollers were properly lubricated.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

02to decrease

B2 · Upper Intermediate Finance

v. to go down in value, amount, or quality.

v. to decline or decrease in value, volume, or standard, often gradually.

“Stock prices started to slide after the company reported poor earnings.”

“Economic indicators suggest that consumer confidence may continue to slide if inflation remains at these levels through the next quarter.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

03playground equipment

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

n. a structure with a smooth slope that children climb up and sit on to go down quickly.

n. an item of play equipment consisting of an inclined plane for sliding down.

“The toddler was too scared to go down the big slide by himself.”

“The local council decided to replace the old metal slide with a modern plastic version that wouldn't get as hot in the summer sun.”

Synonyms

04presentation page

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Computing

n. one page of a digital presentation, like in PowerPoint.

n. a single page or image shown in a digital presentation or projected onto a screen.

“Please look at the chart on the next slide for more details.”

“The speaker spent too much time on the introductory slide, leaving very little room for the technical data at the end of the deck.”

Synonyms

05geological fall

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Geology

n. when a large amount of earth, rocks, or snow falls down a mountain.

n. the sudden downward movement of a mass of earth, rock, or snow.

“The road was closed for two days because of a massive rock slide.”

“Heavy rainfall triggered a mud slide that threatened several residential properties at the base of the canyon.”

06microscope glass

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Science Technical

n. a small piece of glass used to hold things you want to look at under a microscope.

n. a small rectangular glass plate used to support a specimen for microscopic examination.

“The student carefully placed a drop of water on the slide.”

“The lab technician prepared a series of slides to examine the tissue samples for any signs of cellular abnormality.”

07footwear

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Informal

n. a simple shoe or sandal that you can easily slip your foot into.

n. a backless, open-toed sandal or light shoe.

“I usually wear rubber slides when I go to the swimming pool.”

“She swapped her high heels for a comfortable pair of leather slides as soon as she got home from the wedding.”

Synonyms

sandalflip-flop

08to go somewhere

C1 · Advanced Slang

v. to go to a place, often quickly or secretly.

v. to move from one location to another; often used in the context of visiting someone.

“Are you going to slide to the party later tonight?”

“He told his friends he might slide by the studio later if he finished his work early enough.”

Synonyms

09to change pitch

C1 · Advanced Music Technical

v. to move smoothly from one musical note to another.

v. to pass from one musical note to another by a continuous change of pitch.

“The guitar player used a metal tube to slide between the notes.”

“The trombonist executed a perfect slide, transitioning between the intervals with remarkable fluidness and precision.”

Synonyms

glissando

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “slide” in context.

Verb

01. slide across

“She watched the puck slide across the ice toward the goal.”

verb + prep

02. slide down

“The children spent the afternoon watching the raindrops slide down the window.”

verb + prep

03. slide into

“The country is beginning to slide into a deep economic recession.”

verb + prep

04. slide open

“The glass doors slide open automatically as you approach the entrance.”

verb + adj

05. slide shut

“He watched the heavy metal gate slide shut behind him.”

verb + adj

06. let things slide

“You can't afford to let things slide if you want the project to succeed.”

07. slide into bad habits

“It is easy to slide into bad habits when you stop exercising regularly.”

08. slide to a halt

“The car skidded on the wet road and finally slid to a halt.”

Real-World Examples

“My bag slides from my shoulder to the floor.”
The Guardian 23 Aug 2026
“My attention kept sliding away from the conversation.”
Aeon 21 Aug 2026
“Can you walk back through a sliding door?”
The Guardian 23 Aug 2026

Etymology

From Middle English sliden, from Old English slīdan (“to slide”), from Proto-West Germanic slīdan, from Proto-Germanic slīdaną (“to slide, glide”), from Proto-Indo-European sléydʰ-e-ti, from sleydʰ- (“slippery”). Cognate with Old High German slītan (“to slide”) (whence German schlittern), Middle Low German slīden (“to slide”), Middle Dutch slīden (“to slide”) (whence Dutch slijderen, frequentative of now obsolete slijden), Vedic Sanskrit स्रेधति (srédhati, “to err, blunder”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

VERB

slide(B2)

Idioms

Domains

ComputingFinanceGeologyMusicPhotography

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
Frequency
Common
Level
B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
Updated

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English Reference