dim Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb switch (a car's headlights) from a higher to a lower beam
    dip.
  2. verb become dim or lusterless
    • the lights dimmed and the curtain rose
  3. verb make dim or lusterless
    • Time had dimmed the silver
  4. verb make dim by comparison or conceal
    blind.
  5. verb become vague or indistinct
    slur; blur.
    • The distinction between the two theories blurred
  6. adjective satellite lacking in light; not bright or harsh
    subdued.
    • a dim light beside the bed
    • subdued lights and soft music
  7. adjective satellite lacking clarity or distinctness
    shadowy; faint; vague; wispy.
    • a dim figure in the distance
    • only a faint recollection
    • shadowy figures in the gloom
    • saw a vague outline of a building through the fog
    • a few wispy memories of childhood
  8. adjective made dim or less bright
    dimmed.
    • the dimmed houselights brought a hush of anticipation
    • dimmed headlights
    • we like dimmed lights when we have dinner
  9. adjective satellite offering little or no hope
    black; bleak.
    • the future looked black
    • prospects were bleak
    • Life in the Aran Islands has always been bleak and difficult"- J.M.Synge
    • took a dim view of things
  10. adjective satellite slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity
    slow; dense; dumb; obtuse; dull.
    • so dense he never understands anything I say to him
    • never met anyone quite so dim
    • although dull at classical learning, at mathematics he was uncommonly quick"- Thackeray
    • dumb officials make some really dumb decisions
    • he was either normally stupid or being deliberately obtuse
    • worked with the slow students

WordNet

Dim adjective
Etymology
AS. dim; akin to OFries. dim, Icel. dimmr: cf. MHG. timmer, timber; of uncertain origin.
Wordforms
comparative Dimmer ; superlative Dimmest
Definitions
  1. Not bright or distinct; wanting luminousness or clearness; obscure in luster or sound; dusky; darkish; obscure; indistinct; overcast; tarnished.
    The dim magnificence of poetry. Whewell.
    How is the gold become dim! Lam. iv. 1.
    I never saw The heavens so dim by day. Shak.
    Three sleepless nights I passed in sounding on, Through words and things, a dim and perilous way. Wordsworth.
  2. Of obscure vision; not seeing clearly; hence, dull of apprehension; of weak perception; obtuse.
    Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow. Job xvii. 7.
    The understanding is dim. Rogers.
    ✍ Obvious compounds: dim-eyed; dim-sighted, etc. Syn. -- Obscure; dusky; dark; mysterious; imperfect; dull; sullied; tarnished.
Dim transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Dimmed ; present participle & verbal noun Dimming
Definitions
  1. To render dim, obscure, or dark; to make less bright or distinct; to take away the luster of; to darken; to dull; to obscure; to eclipse.
    A king among his courtiers, who dims all his attendants. Dryden.
    Now set the sun, and twilight dimmed the ways. Cowper.
  2. To deprive of distinct vision; to hinder from seeing clearly, either by dazzling or clouding the eyes; to darken the senses or understanding of.
    Her starry eyes were dimmed with streaming tears. C. Pitt.
Dim intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To grow dim. J. C. Shairp.

Webster 1913