narrow

SayNA-roh/ˈnæɹoʊ//ˈnæɹəʊ/

Noun pluralnarrows

16 meanings of narrow

1
adjective
Small from one side to the other, not wide.
Like a hallway just wide enough for one person to walk through.
The narrow path led up the side of the mountain.
Their car barely fit through the narrow gate.
Similartight, thin, slender, cramped
Oppositewide, broad
Note
2
adjective
Covering only a small area or range, very limited.
Like a small box that can only hold a few things.
She has a narrow circle of friends.
The shop sells only a narrow range of goods.
Similarlimited, restricted, small
Oppositebroad, wide, extensive
3
adjective
Won or lost by only a small amount.
Like winning a race by just the tip of your shoe.
The team got a narrow win in the final seconds.
She passed the test by a narrow margin.
Similarslim, slender, small, bare
Oppositecomfortable, wide, large
Note
4
adjectivefiguratively
Strict and not allowing changes or freedom.
Like a path with high walls: you can only go one way.
The school has narrow rules about what students can wear.
His narrow view left no room for other ideas.
Similarstrict, restrictive, rigid, literal
Oppositebroad, liberal, loose, flexible
5
verbtransitive
To make something less wide or smaller.
Like squeezing a tube to make the opening smaller.
Builders narrowed the road to add a bike lane.
We need to narrow the list before the meeting.
Similarrestrict, limit, reduce, constrict, contract
Oppositewiden, broaden, expand
Note
6
verbintransitive
To become less wide.
Like a river getting thinner as it nears the rocks.
The road narrows just past the bridge.
Rivers narrow as they approach the canyon.
Similartaper, contract, constrict
Oppositewiden, broaden
7
verbtransitive
To lower your eyelids a little, often to show anger or doubt.
Like squinting when you don't quite believe what someone says.
She narrowed her eyes when she heard the lie.
Don't narrow your eyes at me like that.
Similarsquint
Oppositewiden
Note
8
nouncountableplural
A thin part of a river, lake, or sea between wider areas.
Like the thin neck of a bottle where the water squeezes through.
The boat slowed down to pass through the narrows.
Ships line up to enter the narrows at high tide.
Similarstrait, channel
Note
9
adjective
Looking at something very closely and carefully.
Like checking every word in a book with a magnifying glass.
The teacher gave the essay a narrow check for mistakes.
Under such narrow inspection, every flaw showed.
Similarclose, careful, thorough, meticulous, minute
Oppositecursory, superficial
Note
10
adjectivecontracted
Form of limited scope. Used to describe a closed-minded person who rejects new or different ideas.
He has a narrow mind and rejects anything unfamiliar.
Their narrow opinions made them suspicious of outsiders.
Similarintolerant, parochial, insular, blinkered
Oppositetolerant, liberal

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–4, 8–13, 16

From Old English 'nearu', meaning narrow or confined. It goes back to an ancient root meaning to turn, bend, twist, or constrict.

Meanings 5–7, 14–15

From Middle English 'narwen' (to narrow), which came from the noun.