How do you use the word "slack" in a sentence?

Q: How do you use the word "slack" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "slack": We tend to slack off after many hours of hard work. It is important that no one is allowed to slack off on their assigned work.

Slack Meaning

/slæk/

Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

nounThe part of anything that hangs loose, having no strain upon it.

nounA dip in a surface.

Sentence Examples

We tend to slack off after many hours of hard work.

It is important that no one is allowed to slack off on their assigned work.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms:

loose standing lax

Antonyms:

tense

CEFR Practice Quiz

Before starting the climb, the mountaineer pulled the rope to remove the ____ and make it taut.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

Please pull the rope tight to remove any ____ before you secure it to the post.

Word Origin & History

From Middle English slak, from Old English slæc (“slack”), from Proto-Germanic *slakaz. For sense of coal dust, compare slag.

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"Richardson states that a low joint, a short distance from Haslam's Creek Bridge, was, in his opinion, the cause of the accident. […] [He] told Morgan, the Permanent Way Inspector, that there was a "slack" in the road on the Parramatta side of Haslam's Creek Bridge, […] I can positively state […] There was no such slack. The road was in as good running condition as I would wish to see any road. On all lines of course there are slacks, but not slacks of a serious nature; and that there was any such slack or depression in the rails as spoken of by Richardson I positively deny." — 1858, New South Wales. Parliament. Legislative Council, Votes & Proceedings, page 1020:

"[…] a road may be kept up to approximately the same level at all times, and a fair surface maintained by rolling in large patches occasionally, as well as opening slacks in the road when they appear and effecting petty repairs. […] a series of slacks will begin to show in the run of the wheels; or […]" — 1904, Public Works and Journal of Civil Engineering, page 90:

"[…] to make good the voids under the sleeper […] to take out "slacks" in the rail level […]" — 1951, Institution of Civil Engineers (Great Britain), Proceedings of the Joint Engineering Conference, 1951, page 45:

"Cauldstane Slap, or rather Slack, is a much frequented pass, through which the periodical droves of black cattle are transported into England." — 1815, Alexander Pennecuik, The Works of Alexander Pennecuik ...: Containing the Description of Tweeddale, and Miscellaneous Poems, page 141:

"... for they had at that time observed the side of the brae, where the little green slack was situated, covered with a sheet of flame for a moment." — 1837, James Hogg, The hunt of Eildon. The adventures of Basil Lee. Adam Bell. Duncan Campbell. An old soldier's tale. Katie Cheyne. The long pack. A country funeral. The shepherd's calendar, page 249:

Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words