# slowly

/ˈsɫoʊɫi/ (US) · /slˈəʊli/ (UK) · CEFR A2 · Adverb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/slowly
Updated: 2026-04-29

## Definition

at a low speed. You use this when something takes a long time to happen or move.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He drives slow" but "He drives slowly" — While 'slow' is sometimes used as an adverb in informal speech, 'slowly' is the standard form required in most contexts.

## Usage notes

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

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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.