LOWER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does lower mean? 

• LOWER (noun)
  The noun LOWER has 1 sense:

1. the lower of two berths

  Familiarity information: LOWER used as a noun is very rare.

• LOWER (verb)
  The verb LOWER has 5 senses:

1. move something or somebody to a lower position

2. set lower

3. make lower or quieter

4. cause to drop or sink

5. look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval

  Familiarity information: LOWER used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LOWER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The lower of two berths

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

lower; lower berth

Hypernyms ("lower" is a kind of...):

berth; built in bed; bunk (a bed on a ship or train; usually in tiers)

Derivation:

lower (cause to drop or sink)

lower (move something or somebody to a lower position)

• LOWER (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they lower    / lower    ... he / she / it lowers    / lowers   
Past simple: lowered    / lowered   
Past participle: lowered    / lowered   
-ing form: lowering    / lowering   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Move something or somebody to a lower position

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

bring down; get down; let down; lower; take down

Context example:

take down the vase from the shelf

Hypernyms (to "lower" is one way to...):

displace; move (cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)

Cause:

come down; descend; fall; go down (move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "lower"):

reef (lower and bring partially inboard)

depress (lower (prices or markets))

dip (lower briefly)

incline (lower or bend (the head or upper body), as in a nod or bow)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP

Sentence example:

They lower the bags on the table

Antonym:

raise (raise from a lower to a higher position)

Derivation:

lower (the lower of two berths)

lowering (the act of causing something to move to a lower level)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Set lower

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

lour; lower

Context example:

lower expectations

Hypernyms (to "lower" is one way to...):

devalue (lower the value or quality of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "lower"):

derate (lower the rated electrical capability of electrical apparatus)

subdue; subordinate (make subordinate, dependent, or subservient)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Make lower or quieter

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

lour; lower; turn down

Context example:

turn down the volume of a radio

Hypernyms (to "lower" is one way to...):

decrease; lessen; minify (make smaller)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

lowering (the act of causing to become less)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Cause to drop or sink

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

depress; lower

Context example:

The lack of rain had depressed the water level in the reservoir

Hypernyms (to "lower" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

lower (the lower of two berths)

lowering (the act of causing to become less)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Look angry or sullen, wrinkle one's forehead, as if to signal disapproval

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

frown; glower; lour; lower

Hypernyms (to "lower" is one way to...):

grimace; make a face; pull a face (contort the face to indicate a certain mental or emotional state)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "lower"):

scowl (frown with displeasure)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

 Context examples 

Clinical presentation includes a rapidly enlarging painful mass usually of the lower extremities.

(Adult Anaplastic Rhabdomyosarcoma, NCI Thesaurus)

Additional cancer treatment given after the primary treatment to lower the risk that the cancer will come back.

(Adjuvant therapy, NCI Dictionary)

It also lowers the body’s immune response.

(Afinitor, NCI Dictionary)

A term that has been used to describe abnormal cells that come from glands in the walls of the cervix (the lower, narrow end of the uterus).

(AGUS, NCI Dictionary)

A process that lowers the amount of acid in a solution.

(Alkalinization, NCI Dictionary)

Acifran produces these effects at lower doses and without the skin flushing side-effects associated with niacin treatment.

(Acifran, NCI Thesaurus)

I was now in a wing of the castle further to the right than the rooms I knew and a storey lower down.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

It may result in the formation of constriction rings around the digits and upper and lower extremities, swelling of the extremities and congenital amputations.

(Amniotic Band Syndrome, NCI Thesaurus)

A malignant brain tumor that begins in the lower part of the brain and that can spread to the spine or to other parts of the body.

(Medulloblastoma, NCI Dictionary)

She slept continuously, a tiny skeleton flung round with skin in which the flame flickered lower and lower and at last went out.

(White Fang, by Jack London)