dim (dimmer comparative) (dimmest superlative) (dims 3rd person present) (dimming present participle) (dimmed past tense & past participle )
1 adj Dim light is not bright.
She stood waiting, in the dim light...
dimly adv ADV after v, ADV -ed
He followed her into a dimly lit kitchen.
dimness n-uncount
...the dimness of an early September evening.
2 adj A dim place is rather dark because there is not much light in it.
The room was dim and cool and quiet.
dimness n-uncount
I squinted to adjust my eyes to the dimness.
3 adj A dim figure or object is not very easy to see, either because it is in shadow or darkness, or because it is far away.
(=faint)
Pete's torch picked out the dim figures of Bob and Chang.
dimly adv usu ADV with v
The shoreline could be dimly seen.
4 adj If you have a dim memory or understanding of something, it is difficult to remember or is unclear in your mind.
usu ADJ n
(=hazy)
It seems that the '60s era of social activism is all but a dim memory.
dimly adv ADV with v, ADV adj
Christina dimly recalled the procedure...
5 adj If the future of something is dim, you have no reason to feel hopeful or positive about it., (Antonym: bright)
The prospects for a peaceful solution are dim.
6 adj If you describe someone as dim, you think that they are stupid.
INFORMAL
7 verb If you dim a light or if it dims, it becomes less bright.
Dim the lighting<endash>it is unpleasant to lie with a bright light shining in your eyes... V n
The houselights dimmed. V
8 verb If your future, hopes, or emotions dim or if something dims them, they become less good or less strong.
Their economic prospects have dimmed... V
Forty eight years of marriage have not dimmed the passion between Bill and Helen. V n
9 verb If your memories dim or if something dims them, they become less clear in your mind.
Their memory of what happened has dimmed... V
The intervening years had dimmed his memory. V n
10 →
to take a dim view →
view
dim-witted , dimwitted
If you describe someone as dim-witted, you are saying in quite an unkind way that you do not think they are very clever.
INFORMAL adj
(=stupid)
