lower
1 of 4verb (1)
low·er ˈlau̇(-ə)r 
ˈlō-ər
ˈlō-ər variants or less commonly lour
ˈlau̇(-ə)r
lowered also loured; lowering also louring; lowers also lours
intransitive verb
1
: to look sullen : frown
2
: to be or become dark, gloomy, and threatening
an overcast sky lowered over the village
lower
2 of 4noun
variants or less commonly lour
: frown
lower
3 of 4adjective
low·er ˈlō-ər
1
: relatively low in position, rank, or order
2
: southern
lower New York State
3
: less advanced in the scale of evolutionary development
4
a
: situated or held to be situated beneath the earth's surface
b
capitalized : being an earlier epoch or series of the period or system named
Lower Cretaceous
Lower Paleolithic
5
: constituting the popular and often the larger and more representative branch of a bicameral legislative body
lower house
lower
4 of 4verb (2)
low·er ˈlō-ər
lowered; lowering; lowers
intransitive verb
: to move down : drop
also : diminish
transitive verb
1
a
: to let descend : let down
b
: to depress as to direction
lower your aim
c
: to reduce the height of
2
a
: to reduce in value, number, or amount
b(1)
: to bring down in quality or character : degrade
(2)
: abase, humble
c
: to reduce the objective of
Synonyms
Verb (1)
- darken
- gloom
- glower
Noun
- face
- frown
- grimace
- moue
- mouth
- mow
- mug
- pout
- scowl
- snoot
Adjective
- inferior
- junior
- less
- lesser
- minor
- smaller
- subordinate
Verb (2)
- depress
- drop
- throw
- throw down
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun he turned to see the scornful lower on her face Adjective the ship's upper and lower decks The message appeared on the lower portion of the screen. the mountain's upper and lower slopes The forecast is for strong winds at lower elevations. in the lower and higher latitudes the lower and upper peninsulas See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Gleb Tsipursky, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2022 With the opportunity to advertise lower out-of-pocket costs, providers could compete through pricing, not just through quality and reputation. Stacy Bratcher, STAT, 16 Sep. 2022 The historic bill aims to mitigate climate change, lower prescription drug costs, and raise taxes on some of the richest corporations. Eric Cortellessa, Time, 16 Sep. 2022 That reflected the steady decline this summer in the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline to $3.71 this week, a level not seen since the beginning of March and mostly on the heels of lower oil prices, AAA said on Monday. Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 16 Sep. 2022 For example, when a health system invests in affordable housing, the savings, in the form of lower health care costs, may be realized by a health insurer. jsonline.com, 15 Sep. 2022 One key benefit of Medicare Advantage is these plans may have lower out-of-pocket costs than Original Medicare plans. The Salt Lake Tribune, 15 Sep. 2022 My advice to students and parents was to take advantage of community colleges’ lower costs to explore classes, earn credits that may be transferred to a four-year school, learn how to study and mature enough to find a passion for something. WSJ, 12 Sep. 2022 But then the reader remembered that the employer had recently opened a new facility in another state with lower labor costs, and had been shifting more work, resources and opportunities there. Karla L. Miller, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2022 See More
Adjective
Thus, in addition to lower labor costs and higher productivity, both employees and employers pay much less to have staff work remotely. Gleb Tsipursky, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2022 With the opportunity to advertise lower out-of-pocket costs, providers could compete through pricing, not just through quality and reputation. Stacy Bratcher, STAT, 16 Sep. 2022 The historic bill aims to mitigate climate change, lower prescription drug costs, and raise taxes on some of the richest corporations. Eric Cortellessa, Time, 16 Sep. 2022 That reflected the steady decline this summer in the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline to $3.71 this week, a level not seen since the beginning of March and mostly on the heels of lower oil prices, AAA said on Monday. Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 16 Sep. 2022 For example, when a health system invests in affordable housing, the savings, in the form of lower health care costs, may be realized by a health insurer. jsonline.com, 15 Sep. 2022 One key benefit of Medicare Advantage is these plans may have lower out-of-pocket costs than Original Medicare plans. The Salt Lake Tribune, 15 Sep. 2022 My advice to students and parents was to take advantage of community colleges’ lower costs to explore classes, earn credits that may be transferred to a four-year school, learn how to study and mature enough to find a passion for something. WSJ, 12 Sep. 2022 But then the reader remembered that the employer had recently opened a new facility in another state with lower labor costs, and had been shifting more work, resources and opportunities there. Karla L. Miller, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb (1)
Middle English louren; akin to Middle High German lūren to lie in wait
Adjective
low entry 1
First Known Use
Verb (1)
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (2)
1575, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Phrases Containing lower
Kids Definition
lower 1 of 2
adjective
low·er ˈlō-ər
1
: located below another or others of the same kind
a lower floor
2
: located toward the bottom part of something
the lower back
3
: placed below another or others in rank or order
a lower court
4
: less advanced or developed
lower animals
lower
2 of 2verb
lowered; lowering
1
: to move to a level or position that is below or less than an earlier one
The sun lowered in the west.
2
: to let or pull down
He lowered a flag.
3
: to make or become less (as in value, amount, or volume)
The store lowered the price.
4
: to reduce the height of
We'll lower the fence.
Medical Definition
lower
noun
: the lower member of a pair
especially : a lower denture
lowers 1 of 3
verb (1)
1
as in throws
to cause to fall intentionally or unintentionally workmen slowly lowered the heavy statue into place Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- throws
- drops
- depresses
- flattens
- topples
- throws down
- levels
- sinks
- submerges
- plops
- strikes down
- floors
- immerses
- fumbles
- bungles
- knocks down
- knocks over
- plunks down
- bobbles
- foozles
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- raises
- lifts
- picks up
2
as in plunges
to go to a lower level especially abruptly prices of the new type of televisions lowered considerably as competition and sales increased Synonyms & Similar Words
- plunges
- falls
- dips
- declines
- tumbles
- plummets
- decreases
- drops
- descends
- sinks
- skids
- diminishes
- crashes
- lessens
- dives
- craters
- subsides
- nose-dives
- droops
- dwindles
- wanes
- retreats
- abates
- tapers off
- ebbs
- moderates
- recedes
- de-escalates
- dies (down)
- lets up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- rises
- arises
- lifts
- ascends
- increases
- ups
- soars
- mounts
- spikes
- grows
- builds
- expands
- enlarges
- intensifies
- accumulates
- escalates
- swells
- mushrooms
- waxes
- picks up
- bourgeons
- burgeons
- snowballs
- balloons
3
as in reduces
to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent decided to lower his career ambitions to something more achievable Synonyms & Similar Words
- reduces
- decreases
- depletes
- diminishes
- eases
- lessens
- minimizes
- dwindles
- downsizes
- abates
- drops
- compresses
- slashes
- dents
- shortens
- cuts
- curtails
- shrinks
- knocks down
- downscales
- constricts
- de-escalates
- condenses
- pares
- whittles
- truncates
- modulates
- abridges
- modifies
- abbreviates
- retrenches
- contracts
- deflates
- trims
- crops
- cuts down
- docks
- nicks
- prunes
- cuts back
- clips
- qualifies
- moderates
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- increases
- raises
- expands
- augments
- boosts
- enlarges
- amplifies
- escalates
- extends
- inflates
- prolongs
- lengthens
- dilates
- enhances
- swells
- elongates
- heightens
- complements
- adds (to)
- intensifies
- aggrandizes
- blows up
- distends
- supplements
- protracts
- redoubles
4
as in decreases
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually the noise of the jet engine lowered as the plane disappeared in the distance Synonyms & Similar Words
- decreases
- diminishes
- subsides
- eases
- declines
- falls
- shrinks
- vanishes
- lessens
- weakens
- tapers
- recedes
- ebbs
- dwindles
- wanes
- relents
- tapers off
- moderates
- palls
- abates
- phases down
- falls away
- evaporates
- remits
- compresses
- constricts
- relaxes
- rachets (down)
- ratchets (down)
- de-escalates
- lets up
- alleviates
- collapses
- condenses
- drains (away)
- slackens
- dies (away or down or out)
- drops (off)
- contracts
- deflates
- gives out
- flags
- sinks
- slows (down)
- fritters (away)
- tails (off)
- fades (away)
- melts (away)
- peters (out)
- caves (in)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- increases
- rises
- grows
- builds
- expands
- enlarges
- intensifies
- accumulates
- soars
- escalates
- mounts
- swells
- mushrooms
- appears
- waxes
- emerges
- picks up
- lengthens
- bourgeons
- elongates
- balloons
- snowballs
- burgeons
- distends
- blows up
- shows up
5
as in humiliates
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes how could you lower yourself by passing off someone else's work as your own? Synonyms & Similar Words
- humiliates
- discredits
- degrades
- embarrasses
- shames
- humbles
- confuses
- debases
- demeans
- dishonors
- disgraces
- rattles
- diminishes
- cheapens
- abases
- chastens
- insults
- minimizes
- criticizes
- sinks
- ridicules
- takes down
- detracts
- belittles
- fouls
- disparages
- flusters
- mortifies
- disconcerts
- smirches
- depreciates
- confounds
- decries
- discounts
- maligns
- discomfits
- defames
- fazes
- defiles
- condemns
- castigates
- discountenances
- denounces
- slanders
- nonplusses
- libels
- nonpluses
- affronts
- abashes
- writes off
- bad-mouths
- damns
- cries down
- censures
- execrates
- puts down
- reprehends
- reprobates
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- elevates
- exalts
- cites
- boasts
- recognizes
- celebrates
- decorates
- commends
- aggrandizes
- hails
- acknowledges
- applauds
- deifies
- extols
- cheers
- salutes
- congratulates
- praises
- lauds
- touts
- honors
- extolls
- canonizes
- compliments
- eulogizes
- acclaims
- highlights
- promotes
- raises
- magnifies
- fetes
- boosts
- lifts
- spotlights
- ennobles
- advances
- enshrines
- dignifies
- glorifies
- uplifts
- enthrones
- upgrades
- fêtes
- idealizes
- romanticizes
- plays up
- enskies
6
as in depresses
to diminish the price or value of over time, inflation lowers incomes and savings in terms of actual buying power Synonyms & Similar Words
- reduces
- depresses
- attenuates
- devalues
- sinks
- shrinks
- depreciates
- cheapens
- devaluates
- downgrades
- marks down
- debases
- writes down
- breaks
- lessens
- writes off
- underestimates
- undervalues
- compresses
- underrates
- deflates
- dwindles
- downsizes
- abridges
- underprices
- moderates
- contracts
- demonetizes
- de-escalates
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- enhances
- appreciates
- inflates
- increases
- upgrades
- raises
- extends
- overestimates
- adds
- augments
- heightens
- expands
- maximizes
- boosts
- marks up
- bloats
- enlarges
- overvalues
- blows up
- amplifies
- multiplies
- ups
- dilates
- escalates
- swells
- overrates
- compounds
- overprices
- aggrandizes
- balloons
lowers
2 of 3verb (2)
variants also lours
1
as in darkens
to take on a gloomy or forbidding look the sky lowered overhead, threatening a fierce thunderstorm Synonyms & Similar Words
- darkens
- frowns
- stares
- threatens
- glowers
- glares
- angers
- steams
- glooms
- scowls
- broods
- intimidates
- rages
- pets
- bristles
- sulks
- fumes
- menaces
- pouts
- mopes
- storms
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lightens
- brightens
- cheers (up)
- perks (up)
2
as in scowls
to look with anger or disapproval the motorist lowered at the jerk who had cut in front of her Synonyms & Similar Words
- scowls
- frowns
- glares
- glowers
- stares
- stares daggers
- looks daggers
- ogles
- grimaces
- snarls
- gazes
- glooms
- gapes
- growls
- sneers
- sulks
- pouts
- sniggers
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- smiles
- beams
- grins
lowers
3 of 3noun
variants also lours
as in frowns
a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval he turned to see the scornful lower on her face Synonyms & Similar Words
- frowns
- scowls
- grimaces
- mows
- smirks
- pouts
- looks
- faces
- flinches
- winces
- moues
- stares
- sneers
- snarls
- mouths
- growls
- scoffs
- glowers
- simpers
- glares
- snoots
- squinches
- mugs
- rictuses
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- smiles
- grins
- laughs