english
1
general::
adj. VERBS be, prove, seem | remain ADV. extremely, incredibly, remarkably, very | interminably | a bit, comparatively, fairly, a little, pretty, quite, rather, relatively | agonizingly, desperately, frustratingly, painfully, tediously, tortuously Filming was painfully slow. | notoriously Civil court proceedings are notoriously slow. | noticeably He was noticeably slow to respond. | necessarily Genetic evolution is necessarily slow. PREP. at They are extremely slow at reaching decisions., verb ADV. considerably, markedly, noticeably, sharply, significantly Sales have slowed down quite markedly. | barely, hardly The roadblocks hardly slowed them at all. | a bit, a little, slightly | gradually | deliberately She very deliberately slowed her steps. | down, up VERB + SLOW begin to | try to Rachel tried to slow her breathing. | be expected to Economic growth is expected to slow. PHRASES slow to a crawl/walk/snail's pace, slow to a halt/stop The two of them had slowed almost to a stop.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
2
general::
slow (sb/sth) down/up
[ M ]
to become slower, or to make someone or something become slower
• Slow down, you two, you're walking too fast!
• If I run with Christina she tends to slow me down.
• We slowed up when we saw the police., slow down
[ M ]
to be less active and relax more
• The doctor has told him to slow down or he'll have a heart attack.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
3
general::
slow
not moving quickly or not doing something quickly:
• I was always one of the slowest runners in my class. • My computer’s really slow compared to the ones at school.
gradual
happening, developing, or changing slowly over a long period of time:
• a gradual rise in the Earth’s temperature • I’ve noticed a gradual improvement in his work.
leisurely
especially written moving or doing something slowly, especially because you are enjoying what you are doing and do not have to hurry:
• a leisurely breakfast • They walked at a leisurely pace.
unhurried
especially written moving or doing something in a slow and calm way, without rushing at all:
• She continued to listen, seeming relaxed and unhurried. • the doctor’s calm unhurried manner
sluggish
moving or reacting more slowly than usual, especially because of a loss of power or energy. Also used when business, sales, or the economy seem very slow:
• The car seems rather sluggish going uphill. • The drink was making her sluggish. • the company’s sluggish performance this year • Sales have been sluggish.
lethargic
moving slowly, because you feel as if you have no energy and no interest in doing anything:
• She woke up feeling heavy and lethargic. • His son seemed depressed and lethargic.
languid
literary slow and with very little energy or activity – used about people, actions, or periods of time:
• She lifted her hand in a languid wave. • a long languid afternoon in the middle of summer • He was pale and had rather a languid air about him.
glacial
literary extremely slow – used especially about the speed at which something happens:
• Things are changing, but at a glacial pace.
Longman-Thesaurus
4
general::
adj.
sluggish:
She was a slow worker.
verb
decelerate:
Slow down or you will crash.
verb
curb:
We must slow the progress.
Simple Definitions
5
general::
In addition to the idioms beginning with SLOW, Also see MILLS OF THE GODS GRIND SLOWLY; ON THE UPTAKE, SLOW. slow burn Slowly increasing anger. It is often put as do a slow burn, meaning "gradually grow angrier," as in I did a slow burn when he kept me waiting for three hours. The burn in this idiom comes from burn up in the sense of "make furious." The term was first cited in 1938 and was closely associated with comedian Edgar Kennedy.
American Heritage Idioms