Low can be an adjective or an adverb.
Something that is low measures a short distance from the bottom to the top.
You also say that something is low when it is very close to the ground.
You can use low as an adverb to say that something moves close to the ground. For example, you can say 'He bowed low'.
Low also means 'small in amount, value, or degree'.
Low is not an adverb with this meaning, except in front of paid.
Like the adjective, the adverb low has the comparative and superlative forms lower, lowest.
Lowly is an adjective. It is a literary word meaning 'low in rank, status, or importance'.
The comparative and superlative forms of lowly are lowlier and lowliest.
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Noun | 1. | ![]() air mass - a large body of air with uniform characteristics horizontally cyclone - (meteorology) rapid inward circulation of air masses about a low pressure center; circling counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern |
2. | Low - British political cartoonist (born in New Zealand) who created the character Colonel Blimp (1891-1963) | |
3. | low - a low level or position or degree; "the stock market fell to a new low" degree, level, grade - a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality; "a moderate grade of intelligence"; "a high level of care is required"; "it is all a matter of degree" high - a lofty level or position or degree; "summer temperatures reached an all-time high" | |
4. | ![]() auto, automobile, car, motorcar, machine - a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine; "he needs a car to get to work" gear mechanism, gear - a mechanism for transmitting motion for some specific purpose (as the steering gear of a vehicle) | |
Verb | 1. | low - make a low noise, characteristic of bovines |
Adj. | 1. | low - less than normal in degree or intensity or amount; "low prices"; "the reservoir is low" inferior - of or characteristic of low rank or importance high - greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount; "a high temperature"; "a high price"; "the high point of his career"; "high risks"; "has high hopes"; "the river is high"; "he has a high opinion of himself" |
2. | low - literal meanings; being at or having a relatively small elevation or upward extension; "low ceilings"; "low clouds"; "low hills"; "the sun is low"; "low furniture"; "a low bow" inferior - of or characteristic of low rank or importance short, little - low in stature; not tall; "he was short and stocky"; "short in stature"; "a short smokestack"; "a little man" down - being or moving lower in position or less in some value; "lay face down"; "the moon is down"; "our team is down by a run"; "down by a pawn"; "the stock market is down today" high - (literal meaning) being at or having a relatively great or specific elevation or upward extension (sometimes used in combinations like `knee-high'); "a high mountain"; "high ceilings"; "high buildings"; "a high forehead"; "a high incline"; "a foot high" | |
3. | low - very low in volume; "a low murmur"; "the low-toned murmur of the surf" soft - (of sound) relatively low in volume; "soft voices"; "soft music" | |
4. | low - unrefined in character; "low comedy" unrefined - (used of persons and their behavior) not refined; uncouth; "how can a refined girl be drawn to such an unrefined man?" | |
5. | low - used of sounds and voices; low in pitch or frequency high-pitched, high - used of sounds and voices; high in pitch or frequency | |
6. | ![]() contemptible - deserving of contempt or scorn | |
7. | ![]() inferior - of or characteristic of low rank or importance | |
8. | low - no longer sufficient; "supplies are low"; "our funds are depleted" insufficient, deficient - of a quantity not able to fulfill a need or requirement; "insufficient funds" | |
9. | low - subdued or brought low in condition or status; "brought low"; "a broken man"; "his broken spirit" humble - marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful; "a humble apology"; "essentially humble...and self-effacing, he achieved the highest formal honors and distinctions"- B.K.Malinowski | |
10. | low - filled with melancholy and despondency ; "gloomy at the thought of what he had to face"; "gloomy predictions"; "a gloomy silence"; "took a grim view of the economy"; "the darkening mood"; "lonely and blue in a strange city"; "depressed by the loss of his job"; "a dispirited and resigned expression on her face"; "downcast after his defeat"; "feeling discouraged and downhearted" down in the mouth, downhearted, low-spirited, gloomy, downcast, dispirited, blue, depressed, grim, down dejected - affected or marked by low spirits; "is dejected but trying to look cheerful" | |
Adv. | 1. | low - in a low position; near the ground; "the branches hung low" |