dim.

¹

abbreviation for

1. (in prescriptions) one-half.

dim.

²

abbreviation for

1. dimension.
2. diminish.
3. diminuendo.
4. diminutive.

dim

³

[ dim ]

adjective

, dim·mer, dim·mest.

1. not bright; obscure from lack of light or emitted light:

   a dim room; a dim flashlight.

2. not seen clearly or in detail; indistinct:

   a dim object in the distance.

3. not clear to the mind; vague:

   a dim idea.

   Synonyms: unclear, hazy, fuzzy, indistinct, indefinite, faint

4. not brilliant; dull in luster:

   a dim color.

5. not clear or distinct to the senses; faint:

   a dim sound.

6. not seeing clearly:

   eyes dim with tears.

7. tending to be unfavorable; not likely to happen, succeed, be favorable, etc.:

   a dim chance of winning.

8. not understanding clearly.
9. rather stupid; dim-witted.

verb (used with object)

, dimmed, dim·ming.

1. to make dim or dimmer.

   Synonyms: cloud, darken

2. to switch (the headlights of a vehicle) from the high to the low beam.

verb (used without object)

, dimmed, dim·ming.

1. to become or grow dim or dimmer.

   Synonyms: fade, dull

verb phrase

1. (in wartime) to reduce the night illumination of (a city, ship, etc.) to make it less visible from the air or sea, as a protection from enemy aircraft or ships.

dim

/ dɪm /

adjective

1. badly illuminated

   a dim room

2. not clearly seen; indistinct; faint

   a dim shape

3. having weak or indistinct vision

   eyes dim with tears

4. lacking in understanding; mentally dull
5. not clear in the mind; obscure

   a dim memory

6. lacking in brilliance, brightness, or lustre

   a dim colour

7. tending to be unfavourable; gloomy or disapproving (esp in the phrase take a dim view )

verb

1. to become or cause to become dim
2. tr to cause to seem less bright, as by comparison
3. tr to switch (car headlights) from the main to the lower beam Also called (in Britain and certain other countries)dip

Derived Forms

• ˈdimness, noun
• ˈdimly, adverb

Other Words From

• dimly adverb
• dimma·ble adjective
• dimness noun
• un·dim adjective
• un·dimly adverb
• un·dimmed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dim.¹

From the Latin word dīmidius

Origin of dim.²

before 1000; Middle English, Old English dim ( me ), cognate with Old Frisian dim, Old Norse dimmr

Word History and Origins

Origin of dim.¹

Old English dimm; related to Old Norse dimmr gloomy, dark

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. take a dim view of, to regard with disapproval, skepticism, or dismay:

   Her mother takes a dim view of her choice of friends.

More idioms and phrases containing dim.

see take a dim view .

Synonym Study

See dark.

Example Sentences

Their vessel’s closed quarters and the space station’s relentlessly dim flooded rooms, along with the ominous disrepair of its metal bridges and maze of hallways.

From Salon

I think she has probably a quite dim, dim view of it.

From Salon

A spotlight dimmed as the artist Chella Man signaled to a section of the audience where their parents were seated in all-white costumes.

From New York Times

Bitter disappointments and cruel manipulations seem to conspire to dim Simon’s light and idealism — his mother proves distant and superficial, cutting their meet ups laughably short.

From New York Times

In Southern California, Betye Saar has powerfully dimmed the lights for a new installation at the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, “Drifting Toward Twilight,” which simulates the stages of nightfall.

From New York Times

Related Words

• blur
• cloud
• dull
• eclipse
• fade
• tarnish

More About Dim

What does dim mean?

Dim describes something as lacking light or having a weak brightness, as in a dim flashlight or a dim tunnel. 

Dim also describes things that are unclear, because of poor visibility, a weak understanding, or a more general lack of clarity, as in a dim shape in the distance, a dim noise, or a dim knowledge of math. 

Dim also describes having weak or poor vision, as in Jane’s eyes were dim with tears. 

Dim can be used to mean lacking mental ability or having low intelligence. However, this is almost always considered insulting.

As a verb, dim means to make something dim or less bright, as in He dimmed the lights. It can also be used to mean to grow dim or dimmer, as in The noise of the engine dimmed as the car drove out of sight. 

Example: Although the tunnel was dim, the faint candlelight guided the miner back to the surface.

Where does dim come from?

The first records of dim come from before 1000. It ultimately comes from the Old English dimm, which is related to the Old Norse dimmr, meaning “gloomy” or “dark.”

The word dark is similar to dim but usually means a complete absence of light. A dark room would be one with the lights completely turned off, while a dim room still has a small, faint amount of light.

Dim is used to mean “disapproving” or “unfavorable” in the idiom take a dim view of, as in Her boss took a dim view of her constantly falling asleep at work.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to dim?

• dimly (adverb)
• dimmable (adjective)
• dimmer (noun)
• undim (adjective)

What are some synonyms for dim?

• shadowy
• faint
• dull
• darken
• blur

What are some words that share a root or word element with dim? 

• dimwit

What are some words that often get used in discussing dim?

• light
• brightness
• visibility
• clarity
• vagueness

How is dim used in real life?

Dim is commonly used, especially to mean a lack of brightness.

I look good in very dim lighting

— lexis (@alexisdeluna_) September 13, 2020

I had a dim idea that if I walked the streets of New York all night something of the city's mystery and magnificence might rub off on to me.

— Sylvia Plath (@itssylviaplath) May 28, 2015

The Andromeda galaxy is larger than the moon in the sky, but it is usually too dim to see.

— UberFacts (@UberFacts) November 21, 2014

 

 

Try using dim!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym of dim?

A. clear
B. shadowy
C. dark
D. blurry