dimming

UK: /ˈdɪmɪŋ/

From the verb dim: (⇒ conjugate)

dimming is: ⓘ

v pres p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

dim /dɪm/   adj., dim•mer, dim•mest, v., dimmed, dim•ming. 
adj. 

1. not bright;
   lacking light or strength of light:
   a dim room.
2. not seen clearly, distinctly, or in detail;
   indistinct;
   faint:
   a dim outline.
3. not seeing clearly:
   My eyes were dim with tears.
4. not likely to happen, succeed, or be favorable:
   a dim chance of winning.
5. not clear to the mind;
   vague:
   I had a dim suspicion he was trying to take my job.
6. slow to understand;
   stupid:
   trying to help the dimmer students.

v. 

7. to (cause to) become or grow dim or dimmer: [no object]
   The lights dimmed and the show started.
   [~ + object]
   Would someone please dim the lights?
8. Automotive [~ + object] to switch (the headlights of a vehicle) from the high to the low beam.
9. to (cause to) become less intense, strong, or favorable: [no object]
   My hopes of getting any support for my project dimmed.
   [~ + object]
   The budget crisis really dimmed my hopes of staying on.

Idioms

10. Idioms take a dim view of, [ ~ + obj] to regard with disapproval or mild unbelief:
    She takes a dim view of my attempts to make changes.

dim•ly, adv. 
dim•ness, n. [uncountable]

dim.,  an abbreviation of:

1. dimension.
2. diminish.
3. Music and Dance diminuendo.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

dim  (dim), adj., dim•mer, dim•mest, v., dimmed, dim•ming. 
adj. 

1. not bright;
   obscure from lack of light or emitted light:
   a dim room; a dim flashlight.
2. not seen clearly or in detail;
   indistinct:
   a dim object in the distance.
3. not clear to the mind;
   vague:
   a dim idea.
4. not brilliant;
   dull in luster:
   a dim color.
5. not clear or distinct to the senses;
   faint:
   a dim sound.
6. not seeing clearly:
   eyes dim with tears.
7. tending to be unfavorable;
   not likely to happen, succeed, be favorable, etc.:
   a dim chance of winning.
8. not understanding clearly.
9. rather stupid;
   dim-witted.
10. Idioms take a dim view of, to regard with disapproval, skepticism, or dismay:
    Her mother takes a dim view of her choice of friends.

v.t. 

11. to make dim or dimmer.
12. Automotive to switch (the headlights of a vehicle) from the high to the low beam.

v.i. 

13. to become or grow dim or dimmer.
14. dim out, (in wartime) to reduce the night illumination of (a city, ship, etc.) to make it less visible from the air or sea, as a protection from enemy aircraft or ships.

• Middle English, Old English dim(me), cognate with Old Frisian dim, Old Norse dimmr bef. 1000

dim′ly, adv. 
dim′ma•ble, adj. 
dim′ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. See dark. 
• 3. unclear, faint, indefinite, indistinct, fuzzy, hazy.
• 11. darken, cloud.
• 13. dull, fade.

dim., 

1. Weights and Measures dimension.
2. (in prescriptions) one-half.
• Latin dīmidius
3. diminish.
4. Music and Dance diminuendo.
5. diminutive.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

dim / dɪm/ adjective (dimmer, dimmest)

1. badly illuminated
2. not clearly seen; indistinct; faint
3. having weak or indistinct vision
4. lacking in understanding
5. not clear in the mind; obscure: a dim memory
6. lacking in brilliance, brightness, or lustre
7. tending to be unfavourable; gloomy or disapproving (esp in the phrase take a dim view)

verb (dims, dimming, dimmed)

1. to become or cause to become dim
2. (transitive) to cause to seem less bright, as by comparison
3. (transitive) to switch (car headlights) from the main to the lower beam
   Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): dip

Etymology: Old English dimm; related to Old Norse dimmr gloomy, dark

ˈdimly adverb

ˈdimness noun