Word forms: comparative dimmer, superlative dimmest, 3rd person singular presenttense dims, present participle dimming, past tense, past participle dimmed
1. adjective
Dim light is not bright.
She stood waiting, in the dim light.
Below decks, the lights were dim.
Synonyms: dull, weak, pale, muted More Synonyms of dim
dimlyadverb [ADVERB after verb, ADVERB -ed]
Two lamps burned dimly.
He followed her into a dimly lit kitchen.
dimnessuncountable noun
...the dimness of an early September evening.
2. adjective
A dim place is rather dark because there is not much light in it.
The room was dim and cool and quiet.
Synonyms: poorly lit, dark, gloomy, murky More Synonyms of dim
dimnessuncountable noun
I squinted to adjust my eyes to the dimness.
3. adjective
A dim figure or object is not very easy to see, either because it is in shadow or darkness, or because it is far away.
Pete's torch picked out the dim figures of Bob and Chang.
Synonyms: unclear, obscured, faint, blurred More Synonyms of dim
dimlyadverb [usually ADVERB with verb]
The shoreline could be dimly seen.
4. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If you have a dim memory or understanding of something, it is difficult to remember or is unclear in your mind.
It seems that the '60s era of social activism is all but a dim memory.
Synonyms: obscure, remote, vague, confused More Synonyms of dim
dimlyadverb [ADVERB with verb, ADVERB adjective]
Christina dimly recalled the procedure.
I was dimly aware that dozens of curious people were looking at us.
5. adjective
If the future of something is dim, you have no reason to feel hopeful or positive about it.
The prospects for a peaceful solution are dim.
Synonyms: unfavourable, bad, black, depressing More Synonyms of dim
6. adjective
If you describe someone as dim, you think that they are stupid.
[informal]
7. verb
If you dim a light or if it dims, it becomes less bright.
Dim the lighting–it is unpleasant to lie with a bright light shining in your eyes. [VERB noun]
The houselights dimmed. [VERB]
Synonyms: grow or become faint, fade, dull, grow or become dim More Synonyms of dim
8. verb
If you are driving a car and dim the headlights, you operate a switch that makes them shine downwards, so that they do not shine directly into the eyes of other drivers.
[US]
Dim your lights behind that car. [VERB noun]
regional note: in BRIT, use dip
9. verb
If your future, hopes, or emotions dim or if something dims them, they become less good or less strong.
Their economic prospects have dimmed. [VERB]
Forty eight years of marriage have not dimmed the passion between Bill and Helen. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: diminish, decline, dwindle, wane More Synonyms of dim
10. ergative verb
If your eyes dim or are dimmed by something, they become weaker or unable to see clearly.
Her eyes dimmed with sorrow. [VERB]
The twinkle in his eyes was dimmed by tears. [beVERB-ed]
Synonyms: cloud More Synonyms of dim
11. verb
If your memories dim or if something dims them, they become less clear in your mind.
Their memory of what happened has dimmed. [VERB]
The intervening years had dimmed his memory. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: fade, fail, disappear, dissolve More Synonyms of dim
12. to take a dim view
More Synonyms of dim
dim in British English
(dɪm)
adjectiveWord forms: dimmer or dimmest
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
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)
verbWord forms: dims, dimming or dimmed
8.
to become or cause to become dim
9. (transitive)
to cause to seem less bright, as by comparison
10. US and Canadian(transitive)
to switch (car headlights) from the main to the lower beam
Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): dip
Derived forms
dimly (ˈdimly)
adverb
dimness (ˈdimness)
noun
Word origin
Old English dimm; related to Old Norse dimmr gloomy, dark
dim in American English1
(dɪm)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈdimmer or ˈdimmest
1.
not bright; somewhat dark
2.
not clear or distinct in character; lacking definition, distinction, strength, etc.
3.
without luster; dull
4.
not clearly seen, heard, perceived, or understood; vague
5.
not clearly seeing, hearing, understanding, etc.
6.
not likely to turn out well
dim prospects
7. Informal
lacking intelligence; stupid
verb transitiveWord forms: dimmed or ˈdimming
8.
to make dim
9.
to make seem dim, as by comparison
10.
to turn (headlights) down by switching from high to low beam
verb intransitive
11.
to grow dim
noun
12. Archaic
dim light; dimness; dusk
13. [pl.]
headlights on a low-beam setting
SIMILAR WORDS: dark
Idioms:
take a dim view of
Derived forms
dimly (ˈdimly)
adverb
dimness (ˈdimness)
noun
Word origin
ME < OE, akin to ON dimmr, dark < IE base *dhem-, to be dusty, misty > damp, Ger dunkel, dark
dim in American English2
1.
dimension
2.
diminutive
More idioms containing
dim
take a dim view of something
Examples of 'dim' in a sentence
dim
The sport's governing body take a dim view of drivers who do not show up.
The Sun (2016)
Most people outside Westminster will take a dim view of their arrogant disdain for democracy.
The Sun (2016)
I tried to explain that in England husbands take a rather dim view of their wives sleeping around.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I guess the obvious solution, a dimmer switch, was out of the question.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This would result in lights being automatically dimmed in homes and businesses across the country.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Better a little too bright than a little too dim.
Christianity Today (2000)
There is a dim memory of dancing.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
That glorious past now seems a dim and distant memory.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Both long to escape the city and the rather dim prospects they see it holding for them.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
There is a hush as the lights dim.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The memory has not dimmed over time.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Some say that a certain spark seemed to have dimmed.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They take a dim view of anyone who breaches that trust.
James Fergusson KANDAHAR COCKNEY: A Tale of Two Worlds (2004)
He used radar detectors and a switch to dim rear lights to dodge the police and lots of cold coffee.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Family life becomes a dim memory.
Hopkins, Tom The Guide to Greatness in Sales (1994)
It's the moment the harsh fluorescent light is dimmed that you see it.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The dim sum were hard, rubbery and horrible.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Perfectly steamed dim sum signed by all four Beatles?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Street lamps could also be switched off or dimmed as happens in France after midnight.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Last year's accolades are rapidly becoming a dim and distant memory.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The Gunners boss is likely to take a dim view of seeing his 11million hotshot take part in dangerous sports.
The Sun (2013)
It's filthy in there, but we tried to make it look good by using dim lighting and a smoke machine.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Do a puzzle in another room in dim light to help you doze Open a window in a hot, stuffy bedroom.
The Sun (2009)
In other languages
dim
British English: dim /dɪm/ ADJECTIVE
Dim light is not bright. You can also say that something is dim when the light is not bright enough to see very well.
Below decks, the lights were dim.
American English: dim
Arabic: باهِت
Brazilian Portuguese: escuro
Chinese: 暗淡的
Croatian: mračan
Czech: tlumený světlo
Danish: dæmpet
Dutch: schemerig
European Spanish: tenue luz
Finnish: hämärä
French: terne
German: dämmerig
Greek: μουντός
Italian: fioco
Japanese: 薄暗い
Korean: 희미한
Norwegian: uklar
Polish: przyćmiony
European Portuguese: escuro
Romanian: neclar
Russian: тусклый
Latin American Spanish: tenue
Swedish: dunkel
Thai: สลัว
Turkish: loş
Ukrainian: тьмяний
Vietnamese: mờ
British English: dim VERB
If you dim a light or if it dims, it becomes less bright.
Dim the lighting – it is unpleasant to lie with a bright light shining in your eyes.
American English: dim
Brazilian Portuguese: diminuir
Chinese: 使变暗
European Spanish: atenuar
French: baisser
German: dämpfen
Italian: abbassareluce
Japanese: 薄暗くする/薄暗くなる
Korean: 어두워지다
European Portuguese: diminuir
Latin American Spanish: atenuar
All related terms of 'dim'
dim-out
(in the US) a restriction which limits the use of lights at night
dim sum
a Chinese appetizer of steamed dumplings containing various fillings
dim bulb
a person who is not clever or intelligent
dim-sighted
with weak or indistinct vision
dim-witted
If you describe someone as dim-witted , you are saying in quite an unkind way that you do not think they are very clever .
simmer dim
the night-long twilight found in the Northern Isles around midsummer
take a dim view of
to regard (something) with disfavour or disapproval
take a dim view of something
to disapprove of something
to take a dim view poor view
If you take a dim view or a poor view of someone or something, you disapprove of them or have a low opinion of them.
dimwit
If you say that someone is a dimwit , you mean that they are ignorant and stupid.
Chinese translation of 'dim'
dim
(dɪm)
adj
(= not bright)
[light]暗淡的 (àndàn de)
[room, place]昏暗的 (hūn'àn de)
(= unclear)[outline, figure]模糊的 (móhu de)
(= faint)[memory, sight]模糊的 (móhu de)
[future, prospects]暗淡的 (àndàn de)
(inf, = stupid) 迟(遲)钝(鈍)的 (chídùn de)
vt
[light]使变(變)淡 (shǐ biàndàn)
(US, Aut)
to dim one's lights打近光灯(燈) (dǎ jìnguāngdēng)
英 = dip
vi
[light]变(變)暗 (biàn'àn)
to take a dim view of sth对(對)某事持不赞(贊)成的态(態)度 (duì mǒushì chí bù zànchéng de tàidu)
1 (adjective)
Definition
lacking in brightness or lustre
She stood waiting in the dim light.
Synonyms
dull
The stamp was a dull blue colour.
weak
The light was so weak we could barely see anything
pale
A pale light seeped through the window.
muted
subdued
The lighting was subdued.
feeble
murky
opaque
The bathroom has an opaque glass window.
dingy
He took me to his rather dingy office.
subfusc
2 (adjective)
Definition
badly lit
The room was dim and cool and quiet.
Synonyms
poorly lit
dark
It was a dark and stormy night.
gloomy
Inside it's gloomy after all that sunshine.
murky
There has been a murky conspiracy to keep them out of power.
shady
After flowering, place the pot in a shady spot.
shadowy
I watched him from a shadowy corner.
dusky
He was walking down the road one dusky evening.
crepuscular
darkish
tenebrous
unilluminated
caliginous (archaic)
3 (adjective)
Definition
lacking in brightness or lustre
a dim February day
Synonyms
cloudy
It was a cloudy, windy day.
grey
It was a grey, wet April Sunday.
gloomy
He is gloomy about the fate of the economy.
dismal
The main part of the hospital is pretty dismal.
murky
Their plane crashed in murky weather.
overcast
It was a cold, wintry, overcast afternoon.
leaden
the leaden boredom of the lecture
Opposites
clear
,
fair
,
bright
,
pleasant
,
sunny
,
cloudless
,
limpid
,
unclouded
4 (adjective)
Definition
not clearly seen
His torch picked out the dim figures.
Synonyms
unclear
obscured
faint
He became aware of the soft, faint sounds of water dripping.
blurred
blurred black and white photographs
fuzzy
a couple of fuzzy pictures
shadowy
hazy
I have only a hazy memory of what he was like.
indistinguishable
bleary
Mona smiled at her through bleary eyes.
undefined
blurry lines and undefined borders
out of focus
Some of the pictures are out of focus.
ill-defined
staff with ill-defined responsibilities
indistinct
The lettering is fuzzy and indistinct.
indiscernible
The signs were so concealed as to be almost indiscernible.
Opposites
clear
,
distinct
,
sharp
5 (adjective)
Definition
not clear in the mind
My childhood is now a dim memory.
Synonyms
obscure
The hills were just an obscure shape in the mist.
remote
particular events in the remote past
vague
He could just make out a vague shape in the distance.
confused
shadowy
the shadowy shape of a big barge loaded with logs
imperfect
hazy
The air was filled with hazy sunshine and frost.
sketchy
intangible
the intangible dimensions of our existence
indistinct
6 (adjective)
The prospects for a peaceful solution are dim.
Synonyms
unfavourable
Unfavourable economic conditions were blocking a recovery.
bad
The closure of the project is bad news for her staff.
black
After the demise of her business, she fell into a black depression.
depressing
the depressing thought of his mother's death
discouraging
We have had a discouraging response to our appeal.
gloomy
Officials say the outlook for next year is gloomy.
dismal
You can't occupy yourself with dismal thoughts all the time.
sombre
The pair were in sombre mood.
unpromising
His business career had distinctly unpromising beginnings.
dispiriting
It's very dispiriting to be out of a job.
disheartening
7 (adjective)
Definition
mentally dull
(informal)
The new student wasn't as dim as we first thought.
Synonyms
stupid
I'm not stupid, you know.
slow
thick
He speaks to me as if I'm thick.
dull
dense
You can be a bit dense sometimes.
dumb (informal)
I came up with this dumb idea.
daft (informal)
dozy (British, informal)
Some dozy bloke ignored the warning signs and drove into a lake.
obtuse
I think you're being deliberately obtuse.
unintelligent
He was abusive of Hemingway as an unintelligent philistine.
asinine
I have never heard such an asinine discussion.
slow on the uptake (informal)
doltish
Opposites
bright
,
aware
,
sharp
,
keen
,
acute
,
smart
,
clever
,
intelligent
,
astute
,
brainy
,
quick-witted
1 (verb)
Definition
to cause to seem less bright
Dim the overhead lights.
Synonyms
turn down
lower
He moved closer, lowering his voice.
fade
dip
He dipped the headlights of his car.
dull
They gave him morphine to dull the pain.
soften
He could not think how to soften the blow of what he had to tell her.
subdue
He forced himself to subdue and overcome his fears.
bedim
make less bright
2 (verb)
Definition
to become or cause to become dim
The houselights dimmed.
Synonyms
grow or become faint
fade
Even a soft light fades the carpets in a room.
dull
grow or become dim
3 (verb)
Definition
to become or cause to become dim
The dusk sky dims to a chilly indigo.
Synonyms
darken
A storm darkened the sky.
dull
Her eyes dulled and she gazed blankly.
blacken
He watched the blackening clouds move in.
cloud over
grow dark
become leaden
4 (verb)
Their economic prospects have dimmed.
Synonyms
diminish
The threat of war has diminished.
decline
a declining birth rate
dwindle
The factory's workforce has dwindled.
wane
His interest in art to wane.
recede
The illness began to recede.
subside
The pain had subsided during the night.
ebb
There were occasions when my enthusiasm ebbed.
die out
fade away
shrivel
peter out
The strike seemed to be petering out.
slacken
Inflationary pressures continued to slacken last month.
5 (verb)
Their memory of what happened has dimmed.
Synonyms
fade
After that all her worries faded away.
fail
Here in the hills, the light failed more quickly.
disappear
The immediate threat has disappeared.
dissolve
His new-found optimism dissolved.
melt away
die away
The sound died away.
6 (verb)
Her eyes dimmed with sorrow.
Synonyms
cloud
The sky clouded and a light rain began to fall.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of asinine
Definition
obstinate or stupid
I have never heard such an asinine discussion.
Synonyms
stupid,
silly,
foolish,
daft (informal),
senseless,
goofy (informal),
idiotic,
inane,
fatuous,
moronic,
imbecile,
gormless (British, informal),
brainless,
imbecilic,
braindead (informal),
dumb-ass (slang),
dead from the neck up (informal),
thickheaded,
dunderheaded,
halfwitted,
thick-witted
in the sense of bad
Definition
unfavourable or distressing
The closure of the project is bad news for her staff.
Synonyms
unfavourable,
troubling,
distressing,
unfortunate,
grim,
discouraging,
unpleasant,
gloomy,
adverse
in the sense of black
Definition
without hope
After the demise of her business, she fell into a black depression.