low
low — verb
1. When a cow or similar animal lows, it gives out a long, deep call from its throa
When a cow or similar animal lows, it gives out a long, deep call from its throat — the sound that people often write as 'moo' in English.
Every morning the cows lowed from the barn, and the farmer knew it was time to feed them.
intransitive: subject (animal) + low, no direct object
The old ox lowed softly as the farmhand carried fresh hay into the stable.
adverb collocation: low softly / low loudly / low deeply
A lost calf lowed for its mother, and another cow answered from across the field.
When the truck arrived late, the cattle lowed loudly until the feeding began.
Cows low gently at sunset, and the sound drifts across the quiet fields.
- cow lows
- ox lowed
- cattle lowing
- low softly
- low loudly
- low gently
Grammar Patterns
animal + low
Usage Note
This verb sense is far less common than the adjective or noun forms of 'low.' In everyday speech, English speakers almost always use 'moo' instead. The verb 'low' appears mainly in literature, historical writing, or descriptions of farm life.
Common Mistakes
low — noun
1. A period or point in a person's life when things are going badly — for example,
A period or point in a person's life when things are going badly — for example, a time of great sadness, failure, or difficulty.
After her brother's accident, Elena reached a real low in her life.
reach a low — idiom for experiencing difficulty
The team's first defeat of the season was a low that Selim found very hard.
Being without work for months was a deep low for the Wong family.
deep low — collocation for intensity
Losing his house in the fire became a low that Christopher never forgot.
For many people, the low of a serious illness can last for years.
low of + noun — pattern showing the kind of difficulty
- deep low
- all-time low
- low point
- reach a low
- hit a low
- a low in life
- down
informal and less common as a noun; 'a down' means a disappointing experience
- rock bottom
more intense and informal; suggests the worst possible state
- nadir
formal and literary; the lowest point of a situation
- high point
opposite — a period of success or happiness
- peak
opposite — the highest or best moment
Grammar Patterns
low + in/of + noun phrase
reach/hit a low
Usage Note
Frequently appears with a possessive (e.g., 'her low', 'the team's low') or in the frame 'a low in/of [something]'. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 1 refers to a period of poor fortune or sadness, not a measurable level.
Common Mistakes
2. The smallest amount, value, or degree that something reaches, especially when co
The smallest amount, value, or degree that something reaches, especially when compared to other levels on a scale.
The company's profits hit a new low this year.
hit a low — common verb + noun collocation
Temperatures in the desert reached a record low at night.
record low — common adjective + noun collocation
The yen fell to a ten-year low against the dollar.
fall to a + time-period + low — pattern for financial comparisons
This winter's rainfall was at its lowest level in fifty years.
Student numbers at the college dropped to a low that worried the staff.
- record low
- new low
- all-time low
- hit a low
- fall to a low
- near a low
- minimum
more neutral and technical; used across many fields
- record low
specific to historical data; an official lowest point
- all-time low
emphasises the lowest across the entire history
Grammar Patterns
hit/reach + a low
fall to + a low
a + time-period + low
Usage Note
Subject is usually numbers or amounts (prices, temperatures, rates, scores). Often used in economic or statistical contexts. Commonly paired with hit, reach, drop to, or fall to.
Common Mistakes
3. An area in the atmosphere where the air pressure is lower than the surrounding a
An area in the atmosphere where the air pressure is lower than the surrounding air, often bringing clouds, rain, or storms.
A low moved east across the island, bringing heavy rain.
a low + verb of movement — meteorological pattern
The weather report says a low will arrive tomorrow afternoon.
Lakshmi checked the satellite image to see where the low was forming.
a low is forming — describing development
Strong winds often follow when a low passes through the region.
The pilot steered the plane around a deep low to avoid the storm.
deep low — collocation for intense weather systems
- deep low
- strong low
- low forms
- low moves
- low passes through
- low arrives
- depression
more formal term, especially in British weather reporting
- low-pressure system
full technical term; more precise in formal contexts
- cyclone
stronger rotating system, used for severe weather events
- high
opposite area of high atmospheric pressure
- high-pressure system
full opposite term
Grammar Patterns
a low + verb of movement (moves/brings/crosses)
a low + arrives/forms/develops
Usage Note
Used mostly in weather reports and meteorological contexts. Often modified by adjectives describing intensity (e.g., deep low, strong low). In formal British English, may be called a depression.
low — adjective
1. having a short distance from the bottom to the top of an object, wall, table, or
having a short distance from the bottom to the top of an object, wall, table, or plant
The garden wall was so low that Amihan could step over it easily.
so + adjective + that-clause
Mizuki bought a low table for her small apartment in Taipei.
The low branches of the old oak tree hung just above the children's heads.
low + noun (branches, wall, table)
Baraka chose a low bookshelf that fit perfectly beneath the window.
The low ceiling in their new house means Benjamin must duck near the doorways.
- low wall
- low table
- low ceiling
- low branch
- low shelf
Common Mistakes
2. at a position that is only a short distance above the ground, floor, or bottom o
at a position that is only a short distance above the ground, floor, or bottom of something
The lowest shelf in the cupboard holds all the heavy pots and pans.
lowest (superlative) + noun
Yara hung the picture low on the wall so her toddler could see it.
A thick fog lay low over the rice fields near the village.
verb + low (position complement)
The bottom drawer of the tall filing cabinet is the lowest one.
Shanti's kite flew low across the park before rising into the sky.
- low shelf
- low drawer
- low position
- low altitude
- low ground
- near the ground
a phrase rather than a single word, but conveys the same meaning
- bottom
refers to the lowest part of something, e.g. 'bottom shelf'
Usage Note
Often used after verbs describing position or movement (lie low, hang low, fly low, sit low).
Common Mistakes
3. having a smaller amount, number, or level than what is normal or expected
having a smaller amount, number, or level than what is normal or expected
Temperatures in the northern city stayed very low all winter long.
low temperature (collocation)
The river was dangerously low after three months without any rain.
Our fuel supplies are running low, so we need to order more soon.
running low (phrasal collocation)
The company's profits were lower this year than last year.
Low rainfall this season has caused problems for local farmers.
- low temperature
- low price
- low level
- low supply
- low battery
- low rainfall
Usage Note
Frequently used with nouns for measurable quantities: temperature, water, price, supply, battery, level, rainfall.
Common Mistakes
4. at or near the bottom of a scale of sound strength, heat output, or brightness
at or near the bottom of a scale of sound strength, heat output, or brightness
Jabari and Talia spoke in low voices so they would not wake the baby.
low voice (collocation for quiet sound)
The heater was set to a low temperature to save electricity.
Mira could hear low thunder in the distance as the storm approached.
The radio played music at a low volume during the family dinner.
low volume (collocation)
Élise read her book under a low light in the corner of the room.
- low voice
- low volume
- low heat
- low light
- low flame
Usage Note
Commonly modifies the nouns voice, volume, heat, flame, and light. Do not use 'low' for total absence — it means reduced, not zero.
Common Mistakes
5. falling short of the level of quality, ability, or performance that is considere
falling short of the level of quality, ability, or performance that is considered acceptable
The food served at the hotel was of surprisingly low quality.
of + low quality (prepositional pattern)
Léa received low marks on her first essay of the semester.
The standard of teaching at the school was very low at that time.
low standard (collocation)
Ramón thought the movie had a low budget and poor special effects.
Customer satisfaction scores have remained low for several months now.
- low quality
- low standard
- low grade
- low mark
- low budget
- poor
the most common substitute; 'poor quality' and 'low quality' are interchangeable
- inferior
suggests something is worse than another thing in comparison
- substandard
formal; implies it fails to meet a specific required standard
Usage Note
Subject is typically a product, service, performance, grade, or experience. When used predicatively (e.g. 'the quality is low'), the preposition 'of' is needed: 'of low quality'.
Common Mistakes
6. having little value, rank, or influence within a group, organization, or society
having little value, rank, or influence within a group, organization, or society
Benjamin started at the lowest level of the company and worked his way up.
lowest level (rank/position)
People in low-income jobs often struggle to pay rent in the city.
low-income jobs (compound adjective)
Amihan refused to do any low-skilled tasks even though she was new.
The ambassador considered the meeting too low a priority to attend.
too low a priority (fixed expression)
In some companies, women were given a lower status than men.
- low rank
- low status
- low level
- low income
- low priority
- low-skilled
- junior
specifically refers to someone of lower rank in a workplace or team
- minor
describes something of lesser importance within a larger set
- humble
carries a positive connotation of modesty, often about one's background
- low-ranking
directly describes position in a hierarchy
- senior
having a higher rank or position
- high-ranking
holding an important position in an organization
- influential
having power to affect decisions or people
Usage Note
Often used attributively in hyphenated compounds: low-income, low-status, low-level, low-ranking, low-skilled. The comparative form 'lower' is common when contrasting positions.
Common Mistakes
7. describing behaviour that shows a lack of moral principle, especially when someo
describing behaviour that shows a lack of moral principle, especially when someone acts in a way that takes unfair advantage of others
Roya felt it was a low trick when Samir took credit for her work.
low trick — dishonest or unfair act
Spreading false rumours about a colleague is a low thing to do.
The candidate's low tactics during the debate disappointed the voters.
Christopher called the prank low and refused to take part.
- low trick
- low blow
- low tactics
- low thing
- mean
more informal; describes unkind behaviour with personal intent
- unfair
broader; can apply to any situation lacking justice, not just personal actions
- despicable
stronger and more formal; suggests extreme moral condemnation
Usage Note
Describes actions or remarks that show a lack of moral principle, often taking unfair advantage of someone else's situation.
8. used for a voice or musical note that is deep and close to the lowest reachable
used for a voice or musical note that is deep and close to the lowest reachable pitch
The double bass produced a low note that filled the concert hall.
low note — deep musical pitch
A low growl came from the dog's throat when the stranger approached.
Antonia's voice dropped to a low pitch when she spoke in secret.
The low hum of the engine could be heard from inside the house.
- low voice
- low note
- low pitch
- low rumble
- low growl
Usage Note
Refers to the depth or pitch of a sound, not how quiet it is. For quiet sounds, use 'soft' or 'quiet' instead.
Common Mistakes
❌ 'He spoke in a low voice' (when meaning quietly) can be ambiguous — 'low voice' mainly refers to deep pitch; for soft volume use 'quiet voice'.
9. feeling unhappy, weak, or lacking the usual energy to enjoy normal activities
feeling unhappy, weak, or lacking the usual energy to enjoy normal activities
Romi had been feeling low ever since she failed her driving test.
feel low — sad or depressed
After the funeral, the whole family felt low for weeks.
Mei noticed that Lan seemed low and asked if she wanted to talk.
Being away from home made Darius feel low during the winter months.
- feel low
- look low
- seem low
- get low
Usage Note
Usually used as a predicate adjective after linking verbs (feel low, look low, seem low). Before a noun, 'low' normally means dishonest (sense 7) or unimportant, not sad.
Common Mistakes
10. in basketball, describing a position or area on the court that is under or right
in basketball, describing a position or area on the court that is under or right next to the basket where points are scored
The centre caught the ball in the low post and scored easily.
low post — basketball position near the basket
The point guard threw a low pass to the player under the basket.
The team spent the whole afternoon practising low moves in the paint.
Ravindra drove into the low post and passed to an open teammate.
- low post
- low block
- low position
- inside
describes the general near-the-basket area in basketball
- close-range
describes shots or passes made near the basket
Usage Note
Only used in basketball contexts. Contrasts with 'high post' (farther from the basket). Usually appears in compound phrases such as 'low post' or 'low block'.
at a low ebb
idiomIn a weak or unsuccessful condition, worse than normal.
Company profits have been at a low ebb this year.
After the defeat, team morale was at a low ebb.
be brought low
idiomTo lose your money, power, or social position.
The once wealthy businessman was brought low by bad investments.
A political scandal brought the senator low.
a high/low profile
idiomThe level of public attention or notice that someone or something receives.
The celebrity keeps a low profile when on vacation.
The charity event had a high profile in the media.
lay somebody low
idiomTo make someone very weak and unable to do much, usually because of illness or injury.
A bad flu laid Sara low for two weeks.
The athlete was laid low by a knee injury.
People who are completely without honesty, morals, or importance, and are not respected.
Scammers who cheat the elderly are the lowest of the low.
In prison, child abusers are considered the lowest of the low.
low — adverb
1. in or to a place that is not far above the ground, floor, or other surface
in or to a place that is not far above the ground, floor, or other surface
The hawk circled low over the field, watching for small animals.
circle + low (movement verb + low)
Daichi ducked low behind the wall so the guard would not see him.
duck + low (action verb + low)
The old branches hung so low that Minh had to push them aside.
hang + low (position verb + low)
Baraka flew the plane low over the water to watch the whales.
A single lamp hung low from the ceiling above the dark wooden table.
- fly low
- hang low
- duck low
- bend low
- lie low
- crawl low
- near the ground
describes position rather than manner; more literal
- close to the floor
used for indoor settings
Grammar Patterns
verb + low
fly/hang/duck + low
Usage Note
Commonly follows verbs of position or movement such as fly, hang, duck, bend, lie, or crawl.
Common Mistakes
2. to a degree or level that is below what is usual or expected, especially of quan
to a degree or level that is below what is usual or expected, especially of quantity, value, temperature, or sound volume
Tuan set the oven temperature low so the bread would bake slowly.
set + object + low (adjustment verb pattern)
After months without rain, the river's water level dropped dangerously low.
drop + low (for levels and amounts)
Nicholas kept the music low so his neighbours would not complain about the noise.
keep + low (maintaining at a reduced level)
The price of rice fell low last year because of a very large harvest.
Shirin scored low on the listening section but did well on the reading part.
- set low
- turn low
- keep low
- drop low
- fall low
- score low
- sell low
- at a reduced level
more formal; emphasises the degree of reduction
- modestly
used for amounts or expectations, not physical position
- high
to a large degree or amount
Grammar Patterns
verb + low
set/turn/keep + object + low
score/fell/drop + low
Usage Note
Often appears after verbs of adjustment like set, turn, keep, or fall when describing temperature, volume, speed, prices, or scores.
Common Mistakes
3. with only a small amount remaining before the supply is completely used up, used
with only a small amount remaining before the supply is completely used up, used only with verbs such as 'run' or 'get'
The pantry was running low on rice, so Cyrus went to the market this morning.
run low on [noun] (fixed expression for diminishing supply)
Our fuel was getting low, so we stopped to fill the tank.
get + low (for supplies nearly finished)
The hospital supply of medicine was running low after the storm cut off the roads.
Diya checked the battery and found it was getting low after three hours of use.
Cash was running low near the end of the trip, so Élise used her card.
- run low on
- get low
- running low
- getting low
- scarce
broader meaning; describes general shortage rather than the process of running out
- in short supply
more formal; emphasises limited availability
Grammar Patterns
run + low + on + [noun]
get + low
be + running/getting + low
Usage Note
Only works with a small set of stative verbs: run (most common) and get. The phrase 'run low on + noun' is the standard frame for describing a supply that is about to finish.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/3
Low, reduced, depleted, and scarce all describe amounts or levels that are smaller than normal, but they differ in cause and emphasis. Low is the most neutral and factual word — it simply states the level without explaining why: 'battery is low,' 'supplies are low.' Reduced suggests a deliberate decrease from a higher previous level, often by someone's action: 'reduced prices after the holiday sale.' Depleted implies that a resource has been heavily consumed, leaving very little behind: 'depleted fish stocks after decades of overfishing.' Scarce focuses on insufficient availability relative to demand, often hinting at a broader shortage: 'clean drinking water is scarce in the region.' In everyday use, low covers the widest range of situations and is safe for learners to use across most contexts. For example: 'The fridge was low on eggs' (simple fact); 'The fridge was nearly depleted of eggs' (almost empty after heavy use); 'Eggs were scarce in the village' (hard to find anywhere).
Common collocations
Nouns
- low level
- low point
- low tide
- low season
- low profile
- low key
- low budget
- low cost
- low risk
- low energy
- low maintenance
Adverbs
- very low
- extremely low
- relatively low
- surprisingly low
- dangerously low
- unusually low
Phrases
- at a low
- all-time low
- record low
- low and slow
- low to the ground
- low on the list
Prepositions
- low in
- low on
- low of
Etymology
The adjective 'low' (not high, near the ground) entered English from Old Norse lágr around the 13th century, with the core meaning of 'lying flat.' It is related to the Old English verb licgan (to lie down), tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European root *legʰ- (to lie, lay). The verb 'low' (to make a cow's mooing sound) is an entirely separate word — it comes from Old English hlōwan, from Proto-Germanic *hlōaną, and shares an ancient root with Latin clāmāre (to shout) and Greek kaléō (to call). These two words happen to share the same spelling in modern English but have never been related in origin or meaning. The noun and adverb uses of 'low' are derived from the adjective.