slim

[ slim ]

adjective

, slim·mer, slim·mest.

1. slender, as in girth or form; slight in build or structure.

   Synonyms: thin

   Antonyms: fat

2. poor or inferior:

   a slim chance; a slim excuse.

3. small or inconsiderable; meager; scanty:

   a slim income.

   Synonyms: trifling, insignificant, paltry, trivial

   Antonyms: abundant, considerable

4. sized for the thinner than average person.

verb (used with object)

, slimmed, slim·ming.

1. to make slim.

verb (used without object)

, slimmed, slim·ming.

1. to become slim.
2. Chiefly British. to try to become more slender, especially by dieting.

noun

1. a garment size meant for a thin person.

verb phrase

1. 1. to lose weight, especially intentionally.
   2. (of a business) to reduce operating expenses; economize.

Slim

¹

/ slɪm /

noun

1. See AIDS
   the E African name for AIDS

slim

²

/ slɪm /

adjective

1. small in width relative to height or length
2. small in amount or quality

   slim chances of success

verb

1. to make or become slim, esp by diets and exercise
2. to reduce or decrease or cause to be reduced or decreased

Slim

³

/ slɪm /

noun

1. SlimWilliam Joseph, 1st Viscount18911970MBritishMILITARY: generalPOLITICS: statesman William Joseph , 1st Viscount. 1891–1970, British field marshal, who commanded (1943–45) the 14th Army in the reconquest of Burma (now called Myanmar) from the Japanese; governor general of Australia (1953–60)

Derived Forms

• ˈslimly, adverb
• ˈslimness, noun
• ˈslimmer, noun

Other Words From

• slimly adverb
• slimness noun
• un·slim adjective
• un·slimly adverb
• un·slimness noun
• un·slimmed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of slim¹

1650–60; < Dutch slim sly, (earlier) crooked (cognate with German schlimm bad, (earlier) crooked)

Word History and Origins

Origin of slim¹

from its wasting effects

Origin of slim²

C17: from Dutch: crafty, from Middle Dutch slimp slanting; compare Old High German slimbi obliquity

Synonym Study

See slender.

Example Sentences

It was a slim volume called “Illness as Metaphor,” by Susan Sontag.

From Washington Post

With very slim wrists, the sweater fits easily under gloves and jackets.

From Outside Online

All you really need to know is that Democrats don’t seem likely to use their slim majority to gut the filibuster.

From FiveThirtyEight

So generally when advertising on Amazon margins are slimmer, than when advertising on other channels.

From Search Engine Land

Weighted out across the two scenarios,5 Kansas City is an extremely slim 51 percent favorite in the model — essentially too close to call, for now.

From FiveThirtyEight

He was one of living symbols of “White Ribbon Revolution” of 2012, always in black, slim, shaved, almost a monk.

From The Daily Beast

Slim turned Bush down, and Lehman filed for bankruptcy in September 2008, just weeks before the presidential election.

From The Daily Beast

It was slim, about “fifty to sixty pages,” according to Bradlee, and mostly concerned with her paintings.

From The Daily Beast

For months, first term Democratic incumbent Kay Hagan has managed to cling to slim lead that has defied national factors.

From The Daily Beast

Stangneth probes his affairs in Argentina, including with Ingrid von Ihne, “tall, blond, and slim, with a cold beauty.”

From The Daily Beast

I pictured him as slim and young looking, smooth-faced, with golden curly hair, and big brown eyes.

From Project Gutenberg

His boyish suspenders had been put away in favor of a belt, which was tight-drawn about his slim waist.

From Project Gutenberg

One evening in the month of April, a slim, straight-backed girl stood in the veranda of a bungalow at Meerut.

From Project Gutenberg

Bedded in the soft earth underneath lay the slim buckskin sacks.

From Project Gutenberg

Outen the side door of the porch next me come a slim, little figger in white.

From Project Gutenberg