narrow
B1Neutral (used in all registers from informal to formal)
Definition
Meaning
of small width in relation to length; limited in extent, amount, or scope.
To become or make less wide; to limit or restrict; to succeed by only a small margin; precise and careful (as in a narrow examination).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The adjective primarily describes physical width but is extensively used metaphorically for concepts like choices, minds, margins, and escapes. The verb implies a process of becoming more limited or confined.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor differences in collocational frequency (e.g., 'narrow boat' is specifically British for a canal boat). Spelling of derived forms is consistent.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties. 'Narrow' can carry a negative connotation when describing attitudes ('narrow-minded'), but a neutral/positive one for precision ('narrow focus').
Frequency
Comparatively similar frequency in both corpora. Slightly higher metaphorical use in academic/formal contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[V] The road narrows ahead.[V n] They narrowed their search.[V to n] The choices narrowed to two.[V adv] His eyes narrowed suspiciously.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “narrow escape”
- “the straight and narrow”
- “narrow it down”
- “narrow the gap”
- “by a narrow margin”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe profit margins, market focus, or competitive advantages (e.g., 'narrow product line', 'narrow profit margin').
Academic
Used to discuss scope of research, interpretations, or definitions (e.g., 'a narrow sample', 'narrowly defined parameters').
Everyday
Commonly describes physical spaces, choices, or close outcomes (e.g., 'a narrow path', 'narrow down the list', 'a narrow win').
Technical
In fields like optics ('narrow beam'), engineering ('narrow tolerance'), or linguistics ('narrow transcription').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The lane narrows considerably beyond the bridge.
- The investigation has narrowed its focus to three suspects.
American English
- His eyes narrowed as he read the report.
- We've narrowed the list down to two candidates.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The street is very old and narrow.
- Be careful, the bridge is narrow.
- He has a very narrow view of the world.
- The gap in the fence was too narrow for the dog.
- The government is attempting to narrow the inequality gap.
- Her research interests are quite narrow but very deep.
- The court's ruling took an excessively narrow interpretation of the statute.
- Economic pressures are narrowing the range of viable policy options.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a NARROW arrow – it's thin and designed to fit through a small space to hit a precise target.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIMITED SCOPE IS NARROW (e.g., narrow viewpoint, narrow interests); PRECISION IS NARROW (e.g., narrow focus); DIFFICULTY IS A NARROW PATH.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'short' (короткий) for physical width. 'Narrow' is exclusively about width, not length or height.
- The verb 'narrow' (сужаться) is often used metaphorically in English where Russian might use a different verb.
- 'Narrow-minded' is a fixed adjective; do not translate literally as 'узкоголовый'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'The room is very narrow in space.' Correct: 'The room is very narrow.' / 'The room has limited space.'
- Incorrect: 'We need to narrow our options into one.' Correct: 'We need to narrow our options down to one.'
Practice
Quiz
In the phrase 'a narrow escape', what does 'narrow' primarily convey?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while its core meaning is physical width, it is very commonly used metaphorically to describe limited scope, close margins (e.g., victory), or precise focus.
'Thin' generally describes a small distance between two opposite surfaces (e.g., thin paper, a thin person). 'Narrow' describes a small distance from side to side (e.g., a narrow road, a narrow shelf). 'Thin' is about thickness, 'narrow' is about width.
Yes. As a verb, it means 'to become or make less wide' (physically) or 'to become or make more limited' (metaphorically), e.g., 'The road narrows,' 'We narrowed the topic.'
It is a fixed adjective meaning unwilling to accept ideas, ways of behaving, or beliefs that are different from your own; the opposite of 'open-minded'.