lower

¹

[ loh-er ]

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to descend; let or put down:

   to lower a flag.

   Synonyms: depress, drop

2. to make lower in height or level:

   to lower the water in a canal.

3. to reduce in amount, price, degree, force, etc.

   Synonyms: lessen, diminish, decrease

   Antonyms: increase, raise

4. to make less loud:

   Please lower your voice.

   Synonyms: soften

5. to bring down in rank or estimation; degrade; humble; abase (oneself), as by some sacrifice of self-respect or dignity:

   His bad actions lowered him in my eyes.

   Synonyms: debase, disgrace, dishonor, humiliate

   Antonyms: ennoble, elevate

6. Music. to make lower in pitch; flatten.
7. Phonetics. to alter the articulation of (a vowel) by increasing the distance of the tongue downward from the palate:

   The vowel of “clerk” is lowered to (ä) in the British pronunciation.

verb (used without object)

1. to become lower, grow less, or diminish, as in amount, intensity, or degree:

   The brook lowers in early summer. Stock prices rise and lower constantly.

2. to descend; sink:

   the sun lowering in the west.

adjective

1. comparative of low ¹.
2. of or relating to those portions of a river farthest from the source.
3. (often initial capital letter) Stratigraphy. noting an early division of a period, system, or the like:

   the Lower Devonian.

noun

1. a denture for the lower jaw.
2. a lower berth.

lower

²

[ lou-er, louuhr ]

verb (used without object)

1. to be dark and threatening, as the sky or the weather.

   Synonyms: threaten, darken

2. to frown, scowl, or look sullen; glower:

   He lowers at people when he's in a bad mood.

noun

1. a dark, threatening appearance, as of the sky or weather.
2. a frown or scowl.

lower

¹

/ ˈlaʊə /

verb

1. (esp of the sky, weather, etc) to be overcast, dark, and menacing
2. to scowl or frown

noun

1. a menacing scowl or appearance

lower

²

/ ˈləʊə /

adjective

1. being below one or more other things

   the lower shelf

   the lower animals

2. reduced in amount or value

   a lower price

3. maths (of a limit or bound) less than or equal to one or more numbers or variables
4. sometimes capital geology denoting the early part or division of a period, system, formation, etc

   Lower Silurian

verb

1. tr to cause to become low or on a lower level; bring, put, or cause to move down
2. tr to reduce or bring down in estimation, dignity, value, etc

   to lower oneself

3. to reduce or be reduced

   to lower one's confidence

4. tr to make quieter

   to lower the radio

5. tr to reduce the pitch of
6. tr phonetics to modify the articulation of (a vowel) by bringing the tongue further away from the roof of the mouth
7. intr to diminish or become less

lower

/ lō′ər /

1. Being an earlier division of the geological or archaeological period named.
2. Compare upper

Derived Forms

• ˈloweringly, adverb
• ˈlowering, adjective
• ˈlowerable, adjective

Other Words From

• lower·a·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lower¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English, comparative of low ¹ (adjective)

Origin of lower²

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English verb louren “to frown, lurk”; akin to German lauern, Dutch loeren; lurk

Word History and Origins

Origin of lower¹

C12 (comparative of low ¹); C17 (vb)

Example Sentences

A new study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden shows that long-term use of common cardiovascular drugs is associated with lower risk of dementia later in life.

From Science Daily

Given sugar has a far lower climate impact than meat, this makes a lot of sense.

From Salon

While it's possible that an exporter in a foreign country compensates the importer for these taxes — such as via rebates or lower prices — there's no requirement to do so.

From Salon

Now, two reports suggest an effective lower energy approach.

From Science Magazine

The report said this was "considerably lower than might have been expected based on data from previous years".

From BBC