slim

American  

[slim] / slɪm /

adjective

slimmer, slimmest

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:

   paltry, trivial, trifling, insignificant

   Antonyms:

   abundant, considerable

4. sized for the thinner than average person.

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verb (used with object)

slimmed, slimming

1. to make slim.

verb (used without object)

slimmed, slimming

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. slim down

   1. to lose weight, especially intentionally.

   2. (of a business) to reduce operating expenses; economize.

slim ¹ British  

/ slɪm /

adjective

1. small in width relative to height or length

2. small in amount or quality

   slim chances of success

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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 ² British  

/ slɪm /

noun

1. the E African name for AIDS

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Slim ³ British  

/ slɪm /

noun

1. 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)

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Related Words

See slender.

Other Word Forms

• slimly adverb
• slimmer noun
• slimness noun
• unslim adjective
• unslimly adverb
• unslimmed adjective
• unslimness noun

Etymology

Origin of slim

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

Example Sentences

For many autistic people, even a slim prospect of an unwanted encounter with law enforcement or an emergency room is frightening.

From Los Angeles Times

Consumer goods conglomerates have been trying to slim down their operations as they struggle to deal with stubborn inflation and slow growth.

From Barron's

Details of what exactly Ukraine has agreed in the Gulf are slim.

From Barron's

"With no sign of prices easing largely due to demand for AI infrastructure, Sony will have made the move to protect its slim hardware margins," said Harding-Rolls.

From BBC

There are warnings that the chances of saving him are very slim but rescuers aren't giving up.

From BBC