Anglais

narrow

gb/nˈɛɹoʊ/ us/nˈɛɹoʊ/
A2 Anglais
~ 1800
Sens
0 sens
adjective A2 property
1

small in width

Not wide; having little space from side to side.

Schéma d’usage : a narrow [street/road/path]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse 'narrow' with 'thin'. 'Thin' usually describes thickness, while 'narrow' describes width from side to side.
Synonymes
slim (Suggests thinness, often used for objects or people, sometimes with a positive connotation.) | thin (General term for having little thickness; can refer to width in some contexts.)
Antonymes
wide (Describes something with a large distance from side to side.) | broad (Similar to 'wide', often used for roads, shoulders, or expanses.)
Collocations
narrow street |narrow path |narrow escape |narrow corridor |narrow passage
Thèmes
measurement |description |daily life |space |core_vocabulary
Exemples
  • The car could barely fit down the narrow street.
  • We crossed a narrow bridge over the river.
  • The hallway was too narrow for two people to walk side by side.
Exemples pédagogiques
  • The road is very narrow.
  • I walk on a narrow path.
  • This table is long and narrow.
Verbe B1 action
2

make or become smaller in width/scope

To make something smaller in size or range; to become smaller.

Schéma d’usage : to narrow [something] down to [options/choices]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may forget that 'narrow down' is common when talking about reducing options, and just say 'narrow' instead.
Synonymes
tighten (Can mean making something more limited or strict, not just physically smaller.) | reduce (A general term for making something less in amount, size, or scope.)
Antonymes
widen (To make something larger in width or scope.) | broaden (To increase the range, scope, or width of something.)
Collocations
narrow down |narrow gap |narrow focus
Thèmes
change |decision making |core_vocabulary |space
Exemples
  • The path narrows as you go up the hill.
  • We need to narrow the list of candidates to three.
  • The river narrows before it reaches the falls.
Exemples pédagogiques
  • The road will narrow ahead.
  • We narrow the choices to two.
  • The river narrows here.
adjective B2 property
3

limited in interests/views

Not willing to accept different ideas or ways; not open-minded.

Schéma d’usage : a narrow [mind/view/perspective]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may confuse this sense with physical narrowness. Context about ideas or attitudes is key.
Synonymes
close-minded (Directly emphasizes refusal to consider different ideas.) | limited (General term for having a small range of ability, knowledge, or openness.)
Antonymes
open-minded (Willing to consider new and different ideas.) | broad-minded (Tolerant and willing to accept many different opinions or behaviors.)
Collocations
narrow view |narrow mind |narrow perspective
Thèmes
personality |social |core_vocabulary |education
Exemples
  • He has a narrow view of what success means.
  • Her thinking is too narrow for this creative project.
  • We should avoid being narrow in our judgments.
Exemples pédagogiques
  • He has a narrow mind.
  • She is narrow about new ideas.
  • Do not be narrow when you listen.
Nom C1 entity
4

small strip of land/water

A thin piece of land or water between bigger areas.

Synonymes
strait (Specifically refers to a narrow passage of water connecting two seas or large areas of water.)
Collocations
sea narrow
Thèmes
geography |nature |space |travel
Exemples
  • Ships passed through the narrow between the two islands.
  • They camped on a narrow of land by the lake.
Exemples pédagogiques
  • We walk across the narrow between lakes.
  • The boat goes through the narrow.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
narrow
API
GB/nˈɛɹoʊ/
US/nˈɛɹoʊ/
Syllabes et accentuation
nar - row (2 syllabes)
Stress on 1st syllable (nar)
Formes du mot
Adjective
  • Base: narrow
  • Comparative: narrower
  • Superlative: narrowest
Verb
  • Base: narrow
  • 3rd Person Singular: narrows
  • Present Participle: narrowing
  • Past: narrowed
Famille de mots
Forms
narrows verb narrowing verb narrowed verb narrower adjective narrowest adjective
Core family
narrowly adverb B2
Related words
narrowness noun narrow-minded adjective
Negative and opposite forms
wide adjective A1 broad adjective A2
Expressions

a narrow escape

1
/ə nˈɛɹoʊ ɪskˈeɪp/
fixed phrase

almost avoiding danger/harm

When someone almost has an accident or bad thing happen but avoids it just in time.

Exemples
  • It was a narrow escape when the tree fell just behind us.
  • She had a narrow escape from injury in the crash.

narrow down

1
/nˈɛɹoʊ dˈaʊn/
phrasal verb

reduce number of choices

To make a list or group smaller by removing things that are not needed.

Exemples
  • We need to narrow down our options before deciding.
  • The police narrowed down the list of suspects to two men.

narrow margin

1
/nˈɛɹoʊ mˈɑɹd͡ʒən/
fixed phrase

very small difference in result/amount

A result that is only just different from another result; not by much.

Exemples
  • They won by a narrow margin of two votes.
  • The team lost by a narrow margin.

Bon retour parmi nous !

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