lower

The word “lower” means to move something down, or reduce its height, amount, or intensity. In plain terms, to bring something down, or to reduce it.

“Lower” is pronounced LOH-uh (/ˈloʊ.ɚ/ in IPA).

Here is “lower” used in a sentence: “They lowered the flag to half-mast.”

Words with a similar meaning to “lower” include drop, fall, fall off, shrink, become and get lower.

“Lower” is a verb.

“Lower” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Lower” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to move something down, or reduce its height, amount, or intensity.

'Lower' can mean physically moving something down, like lowering a flag, or decreasing a level, like lowering prices. 'Reduce' means only to make something smaller in amount, size, or degree, with no sense of physical position. They overlap when talking about numbers, so 'lower the cost' and 'reduce the cost' both work.

It depends on the sense. When 'lower' means to move something down, the opposite is 'raise' or 'lift.' When it means to decrease an amount or intensity, the opposite is 'increase,' 'raise,' or 'boost.' So you might raise a flag or increase a price, both reversing the act of lowering.

'Lower' is usually transitive, meaning you lower something else, like lowering a bucket into a well. 'Descend' is intransitive, meaning the subject itself goes down, as when a plane descends. In short, you lower an object, but you descend when you yourself move to a lower position.

Yes. To lower your voice means to make it quieter or deeper, reducing its volume or pitch. This use reflects the broader meaning of 'lower,' to reduce intensity. You can likewise lower the heat, lower your expectations, or lower the lights, each time bringing something down in strength or degree.