dim

The word “dim” means giving off or showing very little light; not bright. In plain terms, not very bright — whether that's a light, a memory, or, informally, a person's intelligence.

“Dim” is pronounced dihm (/dɪm/ in IPA).

Here is “dim” used in a sentence: “The restaurant had a dim, romantic glow from candlelight.”

Words with a similar meaning to “dim” include dusk, bland, colourless, dingy, dull and faint.

The opposite of “dim” — its antonyms — are bright, colored and multicolored.

Depending on how it is used, “dim” can be an adjective and a verb.

The word “dim” comes from Old English. From Old English "dimm" ("dark, gloomy"), from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "dark".

“Dim” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

"Dim" describes light that is present but very weak, such as a dim lamp giving off just enough light to see by. "Dark" describes the absence of light altogether, so a dim room still has some visible light while a dark room typically has none.

Yes, describing a person as "dim" to mean not very intelligent or quick-witted is informal and can come across as rude or dismissive. It is generally considered impolite in formal or professional settings and is better reserved for casual, often critical, speech.

As an adjective, "dim" describes something already giving off little light, unclear, or hard to make out, as in "a dim memory." As a verb, "dim" describes the action of making something less bright or becoming less bright, as in "dim the lights."