lowering
5 synonyms and 0 antonyms for lowering, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The act of bringing something down or reducing it.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Etymology
c. 1600, "descend, sink, grow less or lower" (intransitive), from lower (adj.), comparative of low (adj.). Transitive meaning "let down, cause to descend" attested from 1650s. Related: Lowered; lowering. In the transitive sense "to cause to descend" the older verb was low. From Middle English lahghenn, (c. 1200), which...
Full origin of lowering →Frequently asked questions
What does “lowering” mean?
The word “lowering” means the act of bringing something down or reducing it. In plain terms, bringing something down, or (as an adjective) looking dark and menacing.
How do you pronounce “lowering”?
“Lowering” is pronounced LOH-uh-rihng (/ˈloʊ.ɚ.ɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “lowering” in a sentence?
Here is “lowering” used in a sentence: “The lowering of the drawbridge signaled the ceremony had begun.”
What part of speech is “lowering”?
Depending on how it is used, “lowering” can be a noun and an adjective.
Is “lowering” a common word?
“Lowering” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “lowering” have?
“Lowering” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of bringing something down or reducing it.
What is the difference between lowering as a noun and lowering as an adjective?
As a noun, lowering means the act of bringing something down or reducing it, such as the lowering of prices or a flag. As an adjective, lowering describes something dark, threatening, and gloomy, especially a sky or someone's expression, as in "lowering clouds."
Can lowering describe a person's expression, not just the sky?
Yes, the adjective sense of lowering can describe someone's expression as dark and threatening, not only weather. A "lowering look" suggests a gloomy or sullen facial expression.