dim
dim — adjective
1. describing a space or area where there is not enough light to see well, because
describing a space or area where there is not enough light to see well, because only weak bulbs are used or because the sun is going down.
The basement was so dim that Nora could not read the labels on the boxes.
so dim that + result clause
A single dim lamp stood on the desk in the corner of the study.
dim + lamp / light / bulb (attributive)
Mayumi walked home through the dim streets of the old town after the festival.
dim + place noun (street / room / corner)
The lights in the cinema grew dim as the previews began to play on screen.
grow dim (linking verb pattern)
- dim light
- dim room
- dim street
- dim corner
- dim lamp
Grammar Patterns
dim + noun (lamp/room/street)
be + dim
linking verb + dim (grow/seem/look)
Usage Note
Often used with linking verbs like 'grow', 'seem', or 'look'. When an adverb is needed, use 'dimly': 'a dimly lit room'.
Common Mistakes
2. describing eyesight that is weak or unclear, especially when caused by getting o
describing eyesight that is weak or unclear, especially when caused by getting older, being very tired, or having a health condition that affects your eyes.
Roya rubbed her eyes, which felt dim after a long night of studying.
eyes + be / feel + dim
As her grandmother aged, her vision grew dim and she needed large-print books.
vision / sight + grow dim
The old fisherman's dim eyes could not make out the shape on the horizon.
dim eyes + cannot make out / see
Without her reading glasses, the newspaper print looked dim and blurry.
look dim (linking verb + result)
- dim eyes
- dim vision
- dim sight
- grow dim
Grammar Patterns
eyes + be + dim
vision / sight + grow dim
Usage Note
Typically used of a person's eyes or vision, not of an object. Distinguish from sense 1: here 'dim' describes sight, not the light level in a room.
Common Mistakes
3. describes a memory, image, or idea that you can only recall in an unclear or inc
describes a memory, image, or idea that you can only recall in an unclear or incomplete way, as if the details have faded over time.
Zola had only a dim memory of the beach holiday from her early childhood.
a dim memory / recollection / impression of
Tamar had only a dim impression of the woman at the bus stop.
dim impression / dim sense
The conversation details grew dim in João's mind as the weeks passed by.
grow dim in one's mind / memory
I have a dim recollection of my uncle's farm from when I was about six.
a dim recollection of + -ing clause
- dim memory
- dim recollection
- dim impression
- dim awareness
Grammar Patterns
a dim + memory / recollection / impression of + noun/-ing
grow dim in one's mind
Usage Note
Almost always appears with 'memory', 'recollection', or 'impression'. Not used with concrete nouns like 'table' or 'house' — you would say 'a dim memory of a house', not 'a dim house'.
Common Mistakes
4. slow at understanding or learning things that most people find easy; not natural
slow at understanding or learning things that most people find easy; not naturally quick in thinking.
The other kids teased Christopher for being a bit dim in maths lessons.
a bit / rather / very + dim (degree adverb)
His dim cousin could not work the TV remote however often he was shown.
dim (attributive before noun)
People thought James was dim because he barely spoke, but his essays showed sharp thinking.
be + dim (predicate)
Nobody called the assistant dim to his face, but the nickname spread around the office.
call + person + dim (object complement)
- a bit dim
- rather dim
- not as dim as
- dim-witted
- dull
similar meaning but slightly old-fashioned
- slow
gentler than 'dim'; often used more politely
- dim-witted
common compound form; slightly less harsh than 'dim' alone
Grammar Patterns
be + dim
a bit / rather / very + dim
call + person + dim
Usage Note
Informal and can be insulting. The compound 'dim-witted' is common and slightly less harsh than calling someone 'dim' alone. Avoid in formal or polite contexts.
Common Mistakes
5. describing the future, chances, or situation of someone or something as unlikely
describing the future, chances, or situation of someone or something as unlikely to improve or succeed.
The team's chances of winning the championship looked dim after their star player got hurt.
chances / prospects + look / seem dim
With the local economy struggling, the future of the small bakery seemed dim.
future / outlook + seem dim
Prospects for peace in the region remained dim after months of failed talks.
prospects for + noun + remain dim
Job prospects in the mining town grew dim when the pit closed for good.
outlook + grow dim
- dim prospects
- dim chances
- dim future
- dim outlook
- look dim
- remain dim
Grammar Patterns
chances / prospects + look / seem dim
future / outlook + grow dim
dim + prospects / chances / future
Usage Note
Subject is almost always an abstract noun such as 'chances', 'prospects', 'future', or 'outlook'. Cannot describe a concrete object — you would not say 'a dim job'.
Common Mistakes
To have a negative opinion about someone or something.
My boss took a dim view of my late arrival.
Why does the teacher take a dim view of group projects?
dim — adverb
1. a short way of writing 'diminuendo' in sheet music, telling the musician to make
a short way of writing 'diminuendo' in sheet music, telling the musician to make the sound gradually softer and quieter.
The conductor wrote 'dim.' above the final bars so the violins would fade out softly.
dim. in sheet music notation
When the score says 'dim.', the whole orchestra must reduce its volume little by little.
dim. = diminuendo (gradually softer)
The pianist saw the marking 'dim.' and let her fingers lighten on the keys.
dim. marking in score
Students who ignore 'dim.' in the music will miss the soft ending the composer intended.
ignore/miss dim. instruction
Music examiners check whether candidates follow written markings such as 'dim.' and 'cresc.'.
dim. alongside other markings
- marked dim.
- write dim.
- dim. instruction
- cresc.
abbreviation for crescendo — the opposite instruction, meaning gradually louder
Grammar Patterns
dim. (written abbreviation in sheet music)
Usage Note
Appears only in printed or handwritten musical scores as an instruction. Not used in speech or general writing. The full Italian word 'diminuendo' is used when speaking.
Common Mistakes
dim — verb
1. to make a source of light weaker, or for a light to become weaker on its own — f
to make a source of light weaker, or for a light to become weaker on its own — for example, when you turn a switch or when a flame runs out of fuel.
Tariro dimmed the bedroom lights and sat down with a novel before bed.
dim + light / lamp (transitive)
The candle flame dimmed as the wax pool in the holder grew shallow.
dim (intransitive — flame / light)
The driver dimmed his headlights when the oncoming car flashed its high beams.
dim + headlights / lights (transitive, driving)
The screen of her phone dimmed automatically in the dark room to save power.
dim automatically (intransitive, technology)
- dim the lights
- dim the lamp
- dim the headlights
- dim the screen
Grammar Patterns
dim + noun (light / lamp / headlights / screen)
dim (intransitive — flame / light / screen)
Usage Note
Can be used transitively (someone dims a light) or intransitively (a light dims). The transitive sense is more common in everyday instructions and driving contexts.
Common Mistakes
2. describes how a good feeling, such as hope, trust, or enthusiasm, can lose its s
describes how a good feeling, such as hope, trust, or enthusiasm, can lose its strength gradually — either because something causes it to weaken or because it fades away on its own over time.
Hope of reaching the finals dimmed after the team lost three games in a row.
hope / enthusiasm + dim (intransitive, figurative)
Years of broken promises had dimmed any trust the villagers still had in the council.
dim + faith / trust / hope (transitive, figurative)
Even the rainy weather could not dim the excitement Hao felt about starting his new job.
not dim + excitement (transitive, positive emotion)
His passion for guitar dimmed as work and family took up his evenings.
passion / interest / excitement + dim (intransitive)
- dim hope
- dim enthusiasm
- dim faith
- dim passion
- dim excitement
- dim trust
- kindle
formal or literary; to start or strengthen a feeling
- rekindle
to bring back a feeling that had grown weak
- strengthen
neutral; to make a feeling stronger
Grammar Patterns
dim + noun (hope / enthusiasm / faith / excitement)
dim (intransitive — feeling / interest)
Usage Note
The subject or object is always an abstract positive quality: hope, faith, enthusiasm, excitement, trust, passion, or interest. This sense does not apply to negative feelings like anger or fear.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- dimlyadverbB2
- dimnessnounC1
- dim-wittedadjectiveB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/1
All four words describe a lack of light, but they differ in how much light remains and what feeling they add. 'Dim' means reduced light — you can still see, but with difficulty: a dim lamp still gives some glow. 'Dark' means little or no light at all: 'the room went dark when the power failed'. 'Gloomy' adds a feeling of sadness or depression to the lack of light, often used for weather ('a gloomy winter sky') or atmosphere. 'Faint' describes a light source that is barely visible, usually because it is far away or extremely weak: 'a faint star in the night sky'. A dim room has some light that is hard to see by; a dark room has almost none; a gloomy room feels sad because of the low light; a faint light is barely there at all.
Common collocations
Nouns
- dim light
- dim room
- dim memory
- dim prospect
- dim future
Adverbs
- dimly lit
- very dim
- rather dim
- a bit dim
Phrases
- dim and distant
- dim and blurry
- grow dim
- look dim
- remain dim
Prepositions
- dim with (age)
Etymology
'Dim' comes from Old English 'dim(m)', meaning 'dark, gloomy, or obscure'. The word has been in the language for over a thousand years and is related to Old High German 'timbar' (dark) and Old Norse 'dimbr'. The core sense of 'not bright' has stayed remarkably stable through the centuries, while figurative extensions grew gradually: the poor-vision sense appeared by the 13th century, the unclear-memory sense by the 16th, the 'stupid' sense by the late 19th century, and the 'poor prospects' sense by the early 20th. The verb form developed naturally from the adjective in early Middle English.