low beam

noun

1. an automobile headlight beam providing short-range illumination of a road and intended chiefly for use in driving on the streets of cities, towns, etc.

Word History and Origins

Origin of low beam¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

A.D.B. headlights have been available in virtually every country except the United States, where separate high and low beams have been the required standard.

From New York Times

The company’s study found that driver stress levels, as measured by heart rate variability, declined by 36 percent when A.D.B. systems were used instead of standard low beams.

From New York Times

Smart headlights would adjust a high intensity light to oncoming traffic, so drivers don’t have to toggle between high and low beams.

From Seattle Times

David Aylor, the manager of active safety testing at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, said technology known as high-beam assist automatically switches high beams to low beams when it senses an oncoming car.

From New York Times

Rather than simple high and low beams, sensors detect oncoming traffic and shade those vehicles from the incredibly bright LED units while illuminating the road ahead at full power.

From New York Times