dim
dihm
Dim (adjective) means giving off or showing very little light; not bright. Example: “The restaurant had a dim, romantic glow from candlelight.”
adjective
1
Giving off or showing very little light; not bright.
"The restaurant had a dim, romantic glow from candlelight."
"Streetlights left the alley dim at night."
"The hallway was too dim to read the numbers on the doors."
2
Not very intelligent or quick-witted.
"He felt dim for forgetting such an obvious answer."
"Don't be so dim; the answer is written right there on the board."
"My brother can be rather dim about money, but he is very kind."
3
Unclear, faint, or hard to make out.
"She had only a dim memory of the accident."
"We could see only the dim outline of a ship through the fog."
"Grandad has a dim recollection of the village before the war."
verb
1
To make something less bright, or to become less bright.
"He dimmed the lights before the movie started."
"The streetlamp flickered and slowly dimmed."
"Please dim your headlights when another car comes towards you on the lane."
How to use dim
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot very bright — whether that's a light, a memory, or, informally, a person's intelligence.
Common mistake
The phrase "take a dim view of" means to disapprove of something, not literally to see it poorly.
Common pairings
dim light
dim memory
dim the lights
take a dim view
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- dims
- Past tense
- dimmed
- Comparative
- dimmer
- Superlative
- dimmest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The restaurant had a _____, romantic glow from candlelight.
Etymology
From Old English "dimm" ("dark, gloomy"), from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "dark".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “dim” mean?
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.
How do you pronounce “dim”?
“Dim” is pronounced dihm (/dɪm/ in IPA).
How do you use “dim” in a sentence?
Here is “dim” used in a sentence: “The restaurant had a dim, romantic glow from candlelight.”
What is another word for “dim”?
Words with a similar meaning to “dim” include dusk, bland, colourless, dingy, dull and faint.
What is the opposite of “dim”?
The opposite of “dim” — its antonyms — are bright, colored and multicolored.
What part of speech is “dim”?
Depending on how it is used, “dim” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “dim” come from?
The word “dim” comes from Old English. From Old English "dimm" ("dark, gloomy"), from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "dark".
Is “dim” a common word?
“Dim” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between "dim" and "dark"?
"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.
Is calling someone "dim" rude?
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.
What is the difference between "dim" as an adjective and "dim" as a verb?
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."
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