Word
slowly
Phoneticsslow·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɫoʊɫi/
UK/slˈəʊli/
Adverb of manner
Definition
adv. at a low speed. You use this when something takes a long time to happen or move.
adv. at a low speed or pace; not quickly. Often used to modify verbs of motion or processes that occur over an extended duration.
Examples
“Please speak slowly so I can understand you.”
“The old car moved slowly up the steep hill while the engine made a loud noise.”
“The glacier retreats slowly over decades, leaving behind a transformed landscape that reveals the immense power of gradual geological shifts.”
Examples
simple
“Please speak slowly so I can understand you.”
contextual
“The old car moved slowly up the steep hill while the engine made a loud noise.”
complex
“The glacier retreats slowly over decades, leaving behind a transformed landscape that reveals the immense power of gradual geological shifts.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “slowly” in context.
Usage
Manner adverb — typically placed after the main verb or at the end of the clause.
Pitfall
He drives slow
He drives slowly
While 'slow' is sometimes used as an adverb in informal speech, 'slowly' is the standard form required in most contexts.
Etymology
From Middle English slowly, slowli, slouli, slowliche, from Old English slāwlīċe (“slowly; sluggishly”), equivalent to slow + -ly. Compare Old Norse slæliga, sljóliga.
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.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL 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: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/slowly