1
a
: having a small upward extension or elevation
a low wall
b
: situated or passing little above a reference line, point, or plane
low bridges
c(1)
: having a low-cut neckline
(2)
: not extending as high as the ankle
low oxfords
2
a
: situated or passing below the normal level, surface, or base of measurement, or the mean elevation
low ground
b
: marking a nadir or bottom
the low point of his career
3
a(1)
: small in number or amount
(2)
: substandard, inadequate
a low level of employment
a low income group
(3)
: cheap
low prices
b
: of lesser degree, size, or amount than average or ordinary
low energy
c
: of lesser position, rank, or order
4
: intended to attract little attention
kept a low profile
5
: unfavorable, disparaging
had a low opinion of her
6
7
a
: being near the horizon
b
: being near the equator
low northern latitudes
8
9
a
: not loud : soft
b
: characterized by being toward the bottom of the range of pitch attainable (as by an instrument)
c
10
: socially or economically humble in character or status
a person of low birth
11
: designed for slow and usually the slowest speed
low gear
12
a
: not advanced in complexity, development, or elaboration
low organisms
b
often capitalized
: low church
13
: being near the basket or net
a player in the low post
14
: dead
—used as a predicate adjective with lay
laid the enemy low
15
: articulated with a wide opening between the relatively flat tongue and the palate : open
\ä\ is a low vowel.
low
adverb
lowness
noun
1
: something that is low: such as
a
: depth
a new low in advertising
b
: a region of low barometric pressure
2
: the transmission gear of an automotive vehicle giving the lowest ratio of driveshaft to crankshaft speed
: the deep sustained sound characteristic especially of a cow
Examples of low in a Sentence
Adjective
The apartment has low ceilings.
They have a home in the low country.
The houses are built on low ground.
temperatures as low as 10 below zero
He's being treated for low blood pressure.
a low dose of medicine
She earns a low salary.
Demand for his books has remained low.
Temperatures were in the low eighties.
Our supply of fuel is getting low.
Recent Examples on the Web
Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
Mamdani Holds Steady Lead in Latest Polls Across 10 major survey conducted since early September, Mamdani has polled in the low-to-mid 40s—a level of support that has held steady even as other candidates have struggled to break through.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Temps will be in the low to mid-50s on both days.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 27 Oct. 2025
Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
Reduce the heat to low and maintain a slow but steady simmer for about 1 hour.
—Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for low
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Recent research suggests that young men in low-income communities are particularly affected by financial consequences tied to sports gambling.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
Mamdani Holds Steady Lead in Latest Polls Across 10 major survey conducted since early September, Mamdani has polled in the low-to-mid 40s—a level of support that has held steady even as other candidates have struggled to break through.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
What To Know Frost and freeze conditions can damage or destroy plants and may disrupt daily life for residents unaccustomed to such lows.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Temps will be in the low to mid-50s on both days.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
Temperatures are expected to range from the upper 20’s to low 30’s in these areas according to the warnings, which are in effect from midnight Wednesday night.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
Reduce the heat to low and maintain a slow but steady simmer for about 1 hour.
—Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for low
Cite this Entry
“Low.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/low. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
low
2 of 3 adjectiveˈlō
lower
ˈlō(-ə)r
; lowest
ˈlō-əst
1
a
: not high or tall
a low wall
a low bridge
b
: cut far down at the neck
c
: not extending as high as the ankle
2
a
: placed or passing below the normal level
low ground
b
: marking a bottom
a low point of his career
3
: stricken sense 1, prostrate
laid low
4
a
: not loud : soft
a low whisper
b
: deep in pitch
a low note
5
a
: being near the equator
low northern latitudes
b
: being near the horizon
the sun is low
6
: poor entry 1 sense 1, lower-class
low birth
7
a
: feeble sense 1, weak
low with fever
b
: not cheerful or lively
in low spirits
8
: less than usual (as in number, amount, degree, or rank)
a low price
low pressure
9
a
: lacking dignity
a low style of writing
b
: morally deserving of criticism : base
a low trick
c
: coarse sense 5, vulgar
low language
10
: being less complex in structure and development than others
low animals
11
: not favorable
a low opinion of their work
low
adverb
lowness
noun
low
3 of 3 noun1
: something low
especially
: a region of low barometric pressure
2
: the arrangement of gears in an automobile that gives the lowest speed of travel
Medical Definition
low
adjective
: having a relatively less complex organization : not greatly differentiated or developed phylogenetically
—usually used in the comparative degree of less advanced types of plants and animals
the lower vertebrates
compare high sense 1
Biographical Definition
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