slow
gb/slˈoʊ/ us/slˈoʊ/
A1
English
~ 1800
lassú, lassít, buta, lassú felfogású, nehézfejű, hosszú záridő, alacsony ISO-érték, alacsony érzékenységű
A1
1
lassú
A1
Usage pattern:
[something] is slow
The bus was slow because of heavy traffic.
A busz lassan haladt a nagy forgalom miatt.
Economic growth has been slow this year.
Idén lassú volt a gazdasági növekedés.
She walked at a slow pace along the beach.
The computer is very slow today.
Recovery after the surgery was slow.
Learner examples
The car is slow.
Az autó lassú.
My phone is slow today.
Ma lassú a telefonom.
He walks slow to enjoy the park.
The train is slow this morning.
The internet is slow here.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'slow' with 'late'. 'Slow' describes speed, not time of arrival.
Meaning
Not fast in movement or action
Collocations
slow progress
|slow pace
|slow traffic
|slow growth
|slow recovery
Synonyms
unhurried (Implies a relaxed pace without urgency.)
Antonyms
fast (Describes high speed or quick movement, opposite of slow.)
Themes
daily life
|transport
|time
|core_vocabulary
|travel
Definition
Moving or happening at a low speed.
Moving, operating, or happening at a low speed or over a long period of time.
VERB
A2
2
lassít
A2
Usage pattern:
to slow [something] down
The driver slowed the car as he approached the school.
A sofőr lassított az autóval, amikor az iskolához közeledett.
Please slow down when you speak; I can't follow you.
Kérlek, beszélj lassabban; nem tudlak követni.
The project slowed after the funding was cut.
Learner examples
Slow down when you drive.
Vezetés közben lassíts.
He slowed the bike before the corner.
A kanyar előtt lassított a biciklivel.
The rain slowed the game.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes forget to use 'down' after 'slow' in phrasal form when talking about reducing speed.
Meaning
Make something move slower
Collocations
slow down
|slow traffic
|slow the process
Synonyms
decelerate (More formal/technical term often used in scientific or driving contexts.)
Antonyms
speed up (Means to increase speed; opposite of slow in this sense.)
Themes
daily life
|transport
|core_vocabulary
|transportation
Definition
To make something go more slowly.
To cause someone or something to move, happen, or function at a lower speed.
B1
3
Usage pattern:
[someone] is slow to [verb]
He's a bit slow to understand new technology.
Kicsit lassan fogja fel az új technológiát.
I was slow to realize what she meant.
Csak lassan jöttem rá, mire gondolt.
Some students are slow learners but still succeed.
Learner examples
She is slow to answer questions.
Lassan válaszol a kérdésekre.
He is a slow learner.
Lassan tanul.
I am slow to understand this topic.
Common mistake:
Learners may misuse this sense in a way that sounds insulting; context and tone matter.
Meaning
Taking time to understand or respond
Collocations
slow learner
|slow to respond
Synonyms
unresponsive (Implies not reacting quickly, though can be more extreme than 'slow'.)
Antonyms
quick-witted (Able to think and respond quickly, opposite of mentally slow.)
Themes
emotions
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Needing more time than others to think or understand.
Taking more time than usual to understand, think, or react.
B2
4
Use a slow shutter speed for low-light scenes.
Használj hosszú záridőt gyenge fényű jelenetekhez.
Slow film gives finer grain but needs more light.
Az alacsony érzékenységű film finomabb szemcsézetet ad, de több fényt igényel.
Photographers often use a tripod with slow exposures.
Learner examples
I used a slow shutter speed for this photo.
Hosszú záridőt használtam ehhez a fotóhoz.
Slow film needs more light.
Az alacsony érzékenységű filmnek több fény kell.
A tripod helps with slow photos.
Meaning
Having low sensitivity to light (photography)
Collocations
slow shutter speed
|slow film
Synonyms
low-speed (Technical term for film or shutter settings requiring more light.)
Antonyms
fast (film) (Film or settings that need less light; opposite of slow in photography.)
Themes
photography
|technology
|arts_entertainment
Definition
In photography, needing more light to make a picture.
(In photography) Describing film, shutter speed, or digital setting that requires more light for proper exposure.
Grammar
Dictionary form
slow
IPA
GB/slˈoʊ/
US/slˈoʊ/
Syllables & stress
slow (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (slow)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: slow
- Comparative: slower
- Superlative: slowest
Verb
- Base: slow
- 3rd Person Singular: slows
- Present Participle: slowing
- Past: slowed
Word family
Forms
slows
verb
slowing
verb
slowed
verb
slower
adjective
slowest
adjective
Core family
slowly
adverb A1
slowness
noun
Related words
slowdown
noun
sluggish
adjective
sluggishly
adverb
Advanced or less common
sluggishness
noun
Expressions
in the slow lane
1/ˈɪn ðə slˈoʊ lˈeɪn/
idiom
informal
Living or working at a slower pace than others
Living or working more slowly than other people around you.
Examples
- Since retiring, they’ve been living in the slow lane.
- I feel like I’m stuck in the slow lane at work.
on the slow side
1/ˈɔn ðə slˈoʊ sˈaɪd/
idiom
informal
A bit slower than usual or expected
A little slower than normal or wanted.
Examples
- The service here is on the slow side today.
- He’s on the slow side when it comes to learning new software.
slow down
1/slˈoʊ dˈaʊn/
phrasal verb
Reduce speed or activity level
To go slower or make something go slower.
Examples
- You should slow down when driving in the rain.
- Production slowed down after the strike.
take it slow
1/tˈeɪk ˈɪt slˈoʊ/
idiom
informal
Proceed carefully and without hurry
To do something slowly and carefully, without rushing.
Examples
- Let's take it slow and not make mistakes.
- We decided to take it slow in our relationship.