What does dim mean?
"Dim" is a versatile English word most commonly used as an adjective to describe light or places that lack brightness — a dim room, dim stars, or the dim glow of a distant lamp. Beyond physical darkness, it extends figuratively to describe memories that have faded over time, prospects or chances that seem unlikely to succeed, and, more critically, people who are slow to understand, though this last usage is informal and potentially offensive. As a verb, "dim" means to make something less bright, as when drivers dim their headlights or users dim a phone screen. The word carries generally negative connotations of obscurity, decline, or inadequacy, appearing frequently in phrases such as "take a dim view" (to disapprove) and "dim prospects." Its flexibility across literal and figurative contexts makes it an essential term for describing both visual conditions and abstract qualities like hope or intelligence.
(Of light or a place) not bright; lacking illumination.
"The hallway was dim and smelled of old wood."
To make or become less bright or intense.
"He dimmed the lights before starting the film."
(British, informal, dated) A foolish or stupid person.
"Don't ask him — he's a complete dim."
Informal and potentially offensive; chiefly British.
Rare; used informally in British English to refer to foolish people.
"The committee was full of dims who couldn't grasp the plan."
"Take a dim view" — a phrase dating back centuries — still means to disapprove, even though nobody's actually squinting at anything.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dim
"Dim" comes from Old English "dim," meaning dark or obscure, and is related to Old Norse "dimma" (to grow dark) and other Germanic forms. It has been part of English since its earliest recorded period, with its core sense of low light remaining remarkably stable over more than a thousand years. Cognates appear across Germanic languages.
Related word forms
How dim is actually used
"Dim" applied to people (meaning unintelligent) is informal and can be considered insulting. The verb sense is common in everyday contexts like adjusting car headlights or screen brightness. British English also uses "dim" colloquially as a noun meaning a stupid person.
Easily confused with dim
"Dim" means faint in light or slow-witted; "dime" is a ten-cent US coin.