# slowing

/ˈsɫoʊɪŋ/ (US) · /slˈəʊɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/slowing
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. reduction in speed

noun · CEFR B2

a situation where something starts to move or happen at a slower speed.

For teachers: a reduction in the speed of a process or the velocity of a physical object.

- Economists are worried about a slowing in the country's growth this year.
- The sudden slowing of the engine suggested a mechanical failure that required immediate investigation by the technical crew.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'of' or 'in'.

## Examples

- The slowing of the car was gradual.
- Economists are concerned about the slowing of global trade following the recent increase in tariffs.
- The gradual slowing of the earth's rotation, though imperceptible to humans, requires the occasional addition of leap seconds to our atomic clocks to maintain synchronization.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.