Word
slowness
Phoneticsslow·ness, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɫoʊnəs/
UK/slˈəʊnəs/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. low speed when you move or do something — taking more time than usual.
n. low speed in movement, action, or progress, relative to what is typical or expected.
Examples
“The slowness of the bus annoys me.”
“The slowness of the internet makes it hard to join video calls from home.”
“She found a quiet pleasure in the slowness of the afternoon, watching light move across the garden wall.”
Examples
simple
“The slowness of the bus annoys me.”
contextual
“The slowness of the internet makes it hard to join video calls from home.”
complex
“She found a quiet pleasure in the slowness of the afternoon, watching light move across the garden wall.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “slowness” in context.
Verb
01. apologize for slowness
“The driver apologized for the slowness of the delivery.”
verb + prep + noun
02. complain about slowness
“Passengers complained about the slowness of the service.”
verb + prep + noun
03. notice slowness
“I first noticed the slowness when the video stopped.”
verb + noun
04. slowness annoys
“The slowness of the internet annoys everyone at home.”
noun + verb
05. slowness surprises
“The slowness of the train surprised the visitors.”
noun + verb
Adjective
06. deliberate slowness
“He answered with deliberate slowness to avoid any mistakes.”
adj + noun
07. extreme slowness
“The extreme slowness of the bus made us late for class.”
adj + noun
08. frustrating slowness
“We waited with frustrating slowness for the page to load.”
adj + noun
Noun
09. degree of slowness
“The degree of slowness in the line surprised us all.”
noun + prep + noun
10. apologize for the slowness
“The company apologized for the slowness in replying to emails.”
11. frustrated by the slowness
“We were frustrated by the slowness of the checkout queue.”
12. move with surprising slowness
“The old bus moved with surprising slowness up the hill.”
Usage
Often appears in the pattern 'the slowness of' followed by a noun phrase.
Real-World Examples
“It affects the brain systems that control movement, often causing tremor, stiffness, slowness and problems with balance, all of which can reduce independence and quality of life in older adults.” “The postal service has faced years of criticism from politicians and the public over the slowness of its letter delivery.” Etymology
From slow + -ness.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
Domain
- 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.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL 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: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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