(lowers, lowering, lowered)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
You can use lower to refer to the bottom one of a pair of things.
She bit her lower lip.
...the lower deck of the bus...
The upper layer of felt should overlap the lower.
...the lower of the two holes.
? upper
ADJ: ADJ n, the ADJ, the ADJ of n
2.
You can use lower to refer to the bottom part of something.
Use a small cushion to help give support to the lower back.
...fires which started in the lower part of a tower block.
? upper
ADJ: ADJ n
3.
You can use lower to refer to people or things that are less important than similar people or things.
Already the awards are causing resentment in the lower ranks of council officers...
The nation's highest court reversed the lower court's decision...
The higher orders of society must rule the lower.
? higher
ADJ: ADJ n, the ADJ
4.
If you lower something, you move it slowly downwards.
Two reporters had to help lower the coffin into the grave...
Sokolowski lowered himself into the black leather chair...
'No movies of me getting out of the pool, boys.' They dutifully lowered their cameras.
VERB: V n prep/adv, V pron-refl prep/adv, V n
• lowering
...the extinguishing of the Olympic flame and the lowering of the flag.
N-UNCOUNT: usu N of n
5.
If you lower something, you make it less in amount, degree, value, or quality.
The Central Bank has lowered interest rates by 2 percent...
VERB: V n
• lowering
...a package of social measures which included the lowering of the retirement age.
N-UNCOUNT: usu N of n
6.
If someone lowers their head or eyes, they look downwards, for example because they are sad or embarrassed.
She lowered her head and brushed past photographers as she went back inside...
She lowered her gaze to the hands in her lap.
? raise
VERB: V n, V n
7.
If you say that you would not lower yourself by doing something, you mean that you would not behave in a way that would make you or other people respect you less.
Don't lower yourself, don't be the way they are...
I've got no qualms about lowering myself to Lemmer's level to get what I want.
VERB: oft with brd-neg, V pron-refl, V pron-refl to n
8.
If you lower your voice or if your voice lowers, you speak more quietly.
The man moved closer, lowering his voice...
His voice lowers confidentially.
VERB: V n, V
9.