A dimly lit street.
- The definition of dim is not bright, somewhat dark or unclear.
An example of something dim is a fading light.
- Dim is defined as headlights on a low beam.
An example of a dim is a low level headlight beam on a car.
- Dim means to make or become darker.
An example of dim is to lower the lights.
dim
dim′mer, dim′mest
- not bright; somewhat dark
- not clear or distinct in character; lacking definition, distinction, strength, etc.
- without luster; dull
- not clearly seen, heard, perceived, or understood; vague
- not clearly seeing, hearing, understanding, etc.
- not likely to turn out well: dim prospects
- Informal lacking intelligence; stupid
Origin of dim
Middle English ; from OE, akin to Old Norse dimmr, dark ; from Indo-European base an unverified form dhem-, to be dusty, misty from source damp, German dunkel, dark dimmed, dim′ming
- to make dim
- to make seem dim, as by comparison
- to turn (headlights) down by switching from high to low beam
to grow dim
- Archaic dim light; dimness; dusk
- headlights on a low-beam setting
dim Idioms
take a dim view of
to view skeptically, pessimistically, etc.
- dimension
- diminutive
dim
adjective
dim·mer, dim·mest- a. Lacking in brightness: a dim room.b. Emitting only a small amount of light; faint: a dim light bulb. See Synonyms at dark.
- Lacking luster; dull or subdued: dim, faded colors.
- Faintly or unclearly perceived; indistinct: a dim figure in the distance; dim, far-off sounds.
- Lacking sharpness or clarity; vague: a dim recollection; only a dim idea of how the machine worked.
- Weak or diminished; feeble: dim eyesight; a dim hope.
- Negative, unfavorable, or disapproving: a dim future in store; takes a dim view of gambling.
- Dull or slow-witted: “[She] had always seemed rather dim and vacant” (Mary V. Dearborn).
tr. & intr.v.
dimmed, dim·ming, dims To make or become dim.
noun
- a. A parking light on a motor vehicle.b. A low beam.
- Archaic Dusk.
Origin of dim
Middle English, from Old English.Related Forms:
- dim′ly
adverb
- dim′ness
noun
dim.
abbreviation
- dimension
- diminished
- diminuendo
- diminutive
dim
Adjective
(comparative dimmer, superlative dimmest)
- Not bright or colorful.
- The lighting was too dim for me to make out his facial features.
- Not smart or intelligent.
- He may be a bit dim, but he's not retarded.
- Indistinct, hazy or unclear.
- His vision grew dimmer as he aged.
- Disapproving, unfavorable: rarely used outside the phrase take a dim view of.
Verb
(third-person singular simple present dims, present participle dimming, simple past and past participle dimmed)
- To make something less bright.
- He dimmed the lights and put on soft music.
- (intransitive) To become darker.
- The lights dimmed briefly when the air conditioning was turned on.
- To render dim, obscure, or dark; to make less bright or distinct; to take away the luster of; to darken; to dull; to obscure; to eclipse.
- To deprive of distinct vision; to hinder from seeing clearly, either by dazzling or clouding the eyes; to darken the senses or understanding of.
Origin
From Middle English dim, dym, from Old English dim, dimm (“dim, dark, gloomy; wretched, grievous, sad, unhappy”), from Proto-Germanic *dimmaz (“dark”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰem- (“to whisk, smoke, blow; dust, haze, cloud; obscure”). Compare Icelandic dimmur (“dark”) and dimma (“darkness”).
dim - Computer Definition
See DIMM.
