adj B1 Intermediate Common

narrow

NA-roh

Narrow (adj) means having a small width compared to length; not wide. Example: “The car barely fit down the narrow alley.”

adj

Having a small width compared to length; not wide.

"The car barely fit down the narrow alley."

"They squeezed through a narrow gap in the fence."

verb

To make or become smaller in width or scope.

"The road narrows sharply just before the bridge."

"Police have narrowed the search to three suspects."

noun

A narrow stretch of water connecting two larger bodies.

"Their boat passed through the narrows at high tide."

How to use narrow

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishNot wide — a small distance from side to side, or (figuratively) limited in scope.

Common pairings

narrow street narrow margin narrow it down narrow-minded

Word forms

narrowed past tense, narrows plural, narrows singular

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The car barely fit down the _____ alley.

Etymology

From Old English nearu, "narrow, confined", tracing back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to twist or constrict".

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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tight slender constricted cramped slim taper

Related words

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Rhymes for narrow

arrow marrow barrow harrow farrow garrow Darrow sparrow wheelbarrow

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Frequently asked questions

What does “narrow” mean?

The word “narrow” means having a small width compared to length; not wide. In plain terms, not wide — a small distance from side to side, or (figuratively) limited in scope.

How do you pronounce “narrow”?

“Narrow” is pronounced NA-roh (/ˈnæɹəʊ/ in IPA).

How do you use “narrow” in a sentence?

Here is “narrow” used in a sentence: “The car barely fit down the narrow alley.”

What is another word for “narrow”?

Words with a similar meaning to “narrow” include taper.

What part of speech is “narrow”?

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

Where does the word “narrow” come from?

The word “narrow” comes from Old English. From Old English nearu, "narrow, confined", tracing back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to twist or constrict".

Is “narrow” a common word?

“Narrow” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “narrow” have?

“Narrow” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having a small width compared to length; not wide.

What is the difference between narrow and thin?

"Narrow" describes something with a small width compared to its length, such as a narrow road, corridor, or gap. "Thin" describes small thickness or a slim body, as in a thin slice or a thin person. You would call a street narrow but a sheet of paper thin, and swapping them often sounds unnatural.

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