Lower Meaning
/ˈləʊ.ə/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjcomparative form of low: more low
adjBottom; more towards the bottom than the middle of an object.
Sentence Examples
I won't lower myself to his level.
Bank lending is rising because of lower interest rates.
Our long-term goal is to lower operating costs by 10 per cent.
CEFR Practice Quiz
She had to ____ the window because it was stuck and she needed to close it.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
You should ____ your voice when you are in the library so that you don't disturb the other people.
Word Origin & History
From low + -er (comparative suffix).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"At level crossings where there are to be half-barriers, train-operated through track-circuiting, the barriers will be timed to lower fully about five seconds before the fastest train can reach the crossing."
— 1960 September, “Talking of Trains: New level-crossing signs”, in Trains Illustrated, page 519:
"Now is the winter of our diſcontent, / Made glorious ſummer by this ſonne of Yorke: / And all the cloudes that lowrd vpon our houſe, / In the deepe boſome of the Ocean buried."
— c. 1593 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The Tragedy of King Richard the Third. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Valentine Sims [and Peter Short] for Andrew Wise, […], published 1597, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
"[...] Juno took her place: / But ſullen Diſcontent ſat lowring on her Face."
— 1700, [John] Dryden, “Homer’s Ilias”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, book I, page 215:
"And still when loudliest howls the storm, / And darkliest lowers his native sky, / The king's fierce soul is in that form, / The warrior's spirit threatens nigh!"
— 1846, R[obert] S[tephen] Hawker, “The Wreck”, in Echoes from Old Cornwall, London: Joseph Masters, […], →OCLC, stanza X, page 76:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
She had to ____ the window because it was stuck and she needed to close it.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
You should ____ your voice when you are in the library so that you don't disturb the other people.