slim
SLIHM
Slim (adj) means Thin, especially in an attractively slender way. Example: “The dancer was tall and slim, with long graceful arms.”
adj
1
Thin, especially in an attractively slender way.
"The dancer was tall and slim, with long graceful arms."
"He bought a slim jacket that fitted his narrow shoulders perfectly."
"She stayed slim by cycling to work every day."
2
Very small; barely enough.
"The team has a slim hope of reaching the final this season."
"There's only a slim chance the flight will leave on time."
"They won by a slim margin of just two votes."
verb
1
To lose weight, or to make something smaller or leaner.
"The company plans to slim its product range to save money."
"My aunt joined a walking group to slim before the summer holiday."
"He's been trying to slim down before the wedding."
How to use slim
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThin (usually said approvingly), or, of a chance or margin, very small.
Common pairings
slim chance
slim margin
slim down
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Word forms
- Plural
- slims
- Third person singular
- slims
- Past tense
- slimmed
- Comparative
- slimmer
- Superlative
- slimmest
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The dancer was tall and _____, with long graceful arms.
Etymology
Borrowed from Low German or Dutch slim, originally meaning "crooked" or "sly." The meaning gradually softened over centuries into "thin, graceful" in English — what linguists call a rare positive shift in meaning.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for slim
See all rhymes for slim →Frequently asked questions
What does “slim” mean?
The word “slim” means thin, especially in an attractively slender way. In plain terms, thin (usually said approvingly), or, of a chance or margin, very small.
How do you pronounce “slim”?
“Slim” is pronounced SLIHM (/ˈslɪm/ in IPA).
How do you use “slim” in a sentence?
Here is “slim” used in a sentence: “She stayed slim by cycling to work every day.”
What part of speech is “slim”?
Depending on how it is used, “slim” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “slim” come from?
The word “slim” comes from German. Borrowed from Low German or Dutch slim, originally meaning "crooked" or "sly." The meaning gradually softened over centuries into "thin, graceful" in English — what linguists call a rare positive shift in meaning.
Is “slim” a common word?
“Slim” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “slim” have?
“Slim” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: thin, especially in an attractively slender way.
What is the difference between "slim" and "skinny"?
Both describe thin people, but the tone differs sharply. "Slim" is complimentary, suggesting an attractively slender, healthy build, while "skinny" often implies someone looks too thin. In polite conversation, "slim" is the safer choice.
Why do "slim chance" and "fat chance" mean the same thing?
It is a well-known quirk of English. A "slim chance" uses slim's sense of "very small; barely enough," so the chance is tiny. "Fat chance" is sarcastic — the speaker really means there is no chance at all — which lands it in the same place, though it is the more dismissive and informal of the two.
What is the difference between "slim" and "slender"?
Both mean attractively thin, and when describing people they are near-perfect synonyms, though "slender" can sound slightly more literary. "Slim" is the more common choice in everyday speech and in figurative phrases for small amounts, such as "slim chance," "slim margin," and "slim majority."
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