use-icon

HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY

To look up an entry in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, use the search window above. For best results, after typing in the word, click on the “Search” button instead of using the “enter” key.

Some compound words (like bus rapid transit, dog whistle, or identity theft) don’t appear on the drop-down list when you type them in the search bar. For best results with compound words, place a quotation mark before the compound word in the search window.

guide to the dictionary

use-icon

THE USAGE PANEL

The Usage Panel is a group of nearly 200 prominent scholars, creative writers, journalists, diplomats, and others in occupations requiring mastery of language. Annual surveys have gauged the acceptability of particular usages and grammatical constructions.

The Panelists

open-icon

AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY APP

The new American Heritage Dictionary app is now available for iOS and Android.

scroll-icon

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY BLOG

The articles in our blog examine new words, revised definitions, interesting images from the fifth edition, discussions of usage, and more.

100-words-icon

See word lists from the best-selling 100 Words Series!

Find out more!

open-icon

INTERESTED IN DICTIONARIES?

Check out the Dictionary Society of North America at http://www.dictionarysociety.com

low·er 1 (louər, lour) also lour (lour)
Share:
intr.v. low·ered, low·er·ing, low·ers also loured or lour·ing or lours
1. To look angry, sullen, or threatening. See Synonyms at frown.
2. To appear dark or stormy, as the sky.
n.
1. A threatening, sullen, or angry look.
2. A dark or stormy appearance: the lower of thunderheads.

[Middle English louren.]

lower·ing·ly adv.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
low 1 (lō)
Share:
adj. low·er, low·est
1.
a. Having little relative height; not high or tall: a low wall.
b. Rising only slightly above surrounding surfaces: a low hill.
c. Near to the ground or the horizon: The low clouds threaten rain. The sun is low.
d. Situated or placed below normal height: a low lighting fixture.
e. Situated below the surrounding surfaces: water standing in low spots.
f. Of less than usual or average depth; shallow: The river is low.
g. Cut to show the wearer's neck and chest; décolleté: a low neckline.
h. Close or closer to a reference point: was low in the offensive zone, near the goal.
i. Linguistics Produced with part or all of the tongue depressed, as a, pronounced (ä), in father. Used of vowels.
2.
a. Below average in degree, intensity, or amount: a low temperature.
b. Below an average or a standard: low wages; a low level of communication.
c. Ranked near the beginning of an ascending series or scale: a low number; a low grade of oil.
d. Relating to or being latitudes nearest to the equator.
e. Relatively small. Used of a cost, price, or other value: a low fee; a low income.
3.
a. Not loud; soft: a low murmur.
b. Having a pitch corresponding to a relatively small number of sound-wave cycles per second.
4. Below others in status or rank; lowly: of low birth.
5.
a. Violating standards of morality or decency; base: a low stunt to pull. See Synonyms at base2.
b. Unrefined; coarse: low humor.
6.
a. Being near depletion: My savings account is low.
b. Not adequately provided or equipped; short: low on supplies.
7.
a. Lacking strength or vigor; weak: a patient whose condition is low.
b. Lacking liveliness or good spirits; discouraged or dejected: feeling low after losing the game.
8. Depreciatory; disparaging: a low opinion of him.
9. Of, relating to, or being the gear configuration or setting, as in an automotive transmission, that produces the least vehicular speed with respect to engine speed.
adv. low·er, low·est
1.
a. In or to a low position, level, or space: aimed low; bent low.
b. In or to a low condition or rank; humbly: thought low of himself.
2. In or to a reduced, humbled, or degraded condition: brought low by failure.
3. Softly; quietly: speak low.
4. With a deep pitch: sang low.
5. At a small price: bought low and sold high.
n.
1. A low level, position, or degree: Rain collects in the lows. The stock market fell to a new low.
2. Meteorology A region of atmospheric pressure that is below normal.
3. The low gear configuration of a transmission.

[Middle English loue, from Old Norse lāgr; see legh- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

lowness n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
low·er 2 (lōər)
Share:
adj. Comparative of low 2
1. Below another in rank, position, or authority.
2. Physically situated below a similar or comparable thing: a lower shelf.
3. Lower Geology & Archaeology Relating to or being an earlier or older division of the period named.
4. Biology Less complex in organization or having traits similar to those of organisms that evolved earlier in the history of life on Earth.
5. Denoting the larger and usually more representative house of a bicameral legislature.
v. low·ered, low·er·ing, low·ers
v.tr.
1. To let, bring, or move down to a lower level.
2. To reduce in value, degree, or quality.
3. To weaken; undermine: lower one's energy.
4. To reduce in standing or respect.
v.intr.
1. To move down: Her hand lowered.
2. To become less; diminish: The temperature has lowered gradually this month.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.