Word
slower
Phoneticsslow·er, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɫoʊɝ/
UK/slˈəʊɐ/
Definitions
01moving at a lower speed
A1 · Beginner
adj. moving or happening at a lower speed than something else.
adj. the comparative form of 'slow', indicating a lower rate of speed or progress relative to another entity.
“The old bus was much slower than the new express train.”
“The slower pace of rural life often appeals to professionals who have spent decades navigating the high-pressure environment of a capital city.”
Usage
As an adjective, it typically precedes a noun or follows a linking verb like 'be' or 'seem'.
Synonyms
02at a lower speed
A2 · Elementary Informal
adv. doing something at a lower speed than before or than someone else.
adv. the comparative form of 'slow', used to modify verbs to indicate a reduced rate of action.
“You need to drive slower when you are near a school.”
“The conductor requested that the orchestra play the second movement slightly slower to emphasize the mournful quality of the strings.”
Usage
In formal writing, 'more slowly' is often preferred over the flat adverb 'slower'.
Teaching tip
While 'slower' is common as an adverb in speech, remind students to use 'more slowly' in academic essays.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03something that reduces speed
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Technical
n. a person or thing that makes a process or movement go more slowly.
n. an agent, substance, or mechanical device that causes a reduction in speed or the rate of a reaction.
“The heavy rain was a major slower of traffic on the motorway.”
“In chemical engineering, certain inhibitors act as slowers of the reaction to prevent the mixture from reaching volatile temperatures.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From slow + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Idioms
- 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.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL 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: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- A1 · Beginner
- Updated
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