# slowness

/ˈsɫoʊnəs/ (US) · /slˈəʊnəs/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/slowness
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

low speed when you move or do something — taking more time than usual.

For teachers: 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.

## Synonyms

sluggishness

## Antonyms

speed, quickness

## Usage notes

- Often appears in the pattern 'the slowness of' followed by a noun phrase.

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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.