LOWER
What does "LOWER" mean?
To move something down to a lesser height or level; also the comparative of 'low'.
Meanings
- To let or bring something down to a lower position. They lowered the coffin slowly into the grave.
- To reduce in amount, degree, or intensity. Please lower your voice in the library.
- The comparative of 'low'; situated below something else or less in amount. The books are on the lower shelf.
- Of the sky or someone's expression, to look dark and threatening (pronounced 'LOW-er', rhyming with 'flower'). Storm clouds lowered over the hills all afternoon. formal
Did you know?
- 'Lower' is two unrelated words sharing one spelling: the everyday 'bring down' (rhymes with 'mower') and a literary 'lower', meaning to scowl or darken like a storm sky (rhymes with 'flower').
Word origin
The 'move down' and comparative senses come from 'low' (from Old Norse 'lagr') plus '-er'. The 'look threatening' sense is a separate word from Middle English 'louren' (to frown), a homograph pronounced differently.
Remember it
To LOWER is to make more LOW; the '-er' just turns 'low' into the action of going down.
A little poem
They lower the flag, the light, the final word-
and overhead, the lowering clouds are heard.
couplet
Wordplay
- The sky began to lower, so the workers lowered the sails - same spelling, opposite directions of dread.
What it teaches
Some words, like some moods, are written the same but felt entirely differently.
Quick facts
What does LOWER mean?
To move something down to a lesser height or level; also the comparative of 'low'.
Is LOWER a valid word?
Yes — LOWER is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.
How many letters is LOWER?
LOWER has 5 letters and 2 syllables.
Where does LOWER come from?
The 'move down' and comparative senses come from 'low' (from Old Norse 'lagr') plus '-er'. The 'look threatening' sense is a separate word from Middle English 'louren' (to frown), a homograph pronounced differently.
What can LOWER teach us?
Some words, like some moods, are written the same but felt entirely differently.
How players do
Be the first to solve it.