Narrower

ˈnæroʊər

adjectiveBeginner📊CommonGeneral
1 meaning2 questions

Definitions

1

Of less width than something else; more restricted in scope or range.

ˈnæroʊər

adjectiveneutralBeginner
General

Comparative form of 'narrow'.

The road becomes narrower as we approach the mountains.

💡 Simply: Imagine a street. If one street is more closed-in than another, like if the buildings are closer together, that street is narrower. It’s about things being a smaller distance across.

👶 For kids: When something is not as wide as something else, like a doorway.

More Examples

2

The gap between their opinions is getting narrower.

3

The river is narrower at this point.

How It's Used

Architecture

"The hallways in the older building are narrower than the ones in the new wing."

Fashion

"She prefers clothes with a narrower fit around the waist."

Metaphorical

"Their field of vision became narrower as they focused on the task."

Synonyms & Antonyms

From Middle English *narwer*, comparative of *narwe* ('narrow'), from Old English *nearu* ('narrow').

The comparative form 'narrower' has been used since the early Middle Ages, evolving alongside the base word 'narrow' to describe size and scope limitations.

Memory tip

Think of a doorway getting smaller – it becomes narrower.

Word Origin

LanguageOld English
Original meaning

"Near, restricted"

narrower roadnarrower gapnarrower focusnarrower rangenarrower waist

Common misspellings

narowernarroer

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written