Narrowed
/ˈnærəʊd/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo decrease the width, extent, or scope of something.
/ˈnærəʊd/
To make or become smaller in width or amount.
The doctor narrowed down the possible causes of the illness.
💡 Simply: Imagine a river getting smaller because the land on both sides is getting closer. That's what it means to narrow something – make it smaller or less wide.
👶 For kids: When something gets smaller, like a road or a gap!
More Examples
The government narrowed the criteria for eligibility to the program.
The river narrowed as it flowed through the mountains.
How It's Used
"The workers narrowed the road to allow for repairs."
"The company narrowed its focus to a specific market segment."
To limit or restrict the scope, application, or range of something.
/ˈnærəʊd/
To restrict or limit something.
The company narrowed their marketing campaign to target a specific age group.
💡 Simply: Think about choosing a specific topic for your school project out of many options, like narrowing down the focus to a small section of the library to find the information you need.
👶 For kids: To make something have less of something else, like choosing just one toy to play with.
More Examples
The committee narrowed the choices to three finalists.
The professor narrowed the course syllabus by removing several chapters.
How It's Used
"The judge narrowed the scope of the investigation."
"The politician narrowed his focus to a single issue."
Synonyms
Contracted
Decreased
Diminished
Concentrated
Confined
Focused
Limited
From Middle English narowen, equivalent to narrow + -ed. The word "narrow" itself comes from Old English nearu.
The word 'narrowed' has been used since the 14th century, initially referring to physical dimensions and later extended to abstract concepts.
Memory tip
Think of a road narrowing, making it smaller.