ENGLISH
REFERENCE

slowly

adv. manner
A2 Elementary Oxford US //ˈsɫoʊɫi// UK //slˈəʊli// slow·ly General-service

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.


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.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English slowly, slowli, slouli, slowliche, from Old English slāwlīċe (“slowly; sluggishly”), equivalent to slow + -ly. Compare Old Norse slæliga, sljóliga.

Usage

Manner adverb — typically placed after the main verb or at the end of the clause.

Pitfall

He drives slowHe drives slowlyWhile 'slow' is sometimes used as an adverb in informal speech, 'slowly' is the standard form required in most contexts.

Idioms1 entry

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