dim

dim.

Use dim in a sentence

A dimly lit street.

adjective

The definition of dim is not bright, somewhat dark or unclear.
An example of something dim is a fading light.

noun

Dim is defined as headlights on a low beam.
An example of a dim is a low level headlight beam on a car.

verb

Dim means to make or become darker.
An example of dim is to lower the lights.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"dim." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 17 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Dim>.

APA Style

dim. (n.d.). Retrieved March 17th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Dim

dim

adjective

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

transitive verb

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
[pl.] headlights on a low-beam setting

dim Idioms

take a dim view of

to view skeptically, pessimistically, etc.

dimension
diminutive

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"dim." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 17 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Dim>.

APA Style

dim. (n.d.). Retrieved March 17th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Dim

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

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"dim." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 17 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Dim>.

APA Style

dim. (n.d.). Retrieved March 17th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/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.

Anagrams

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”).

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"dim." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 17 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Dim>.

APA Style

dim. (n.d.). Retrieved March 17th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Dim

dim - Computer Definition

See DIMM.

Computer Desktop Encyclopedia THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher. © 1981-2017 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved.