- 1measuring a short distance from one side to the other, especially in relation to length narrow streets a narrow bed/doorway/shelf narrow shoulders/hips There was only a narrow gap between the bed and the wall. (figurative) the narrow confines of prison life The road soon became narrower and steeper. opposite broad, wide
Want to learn more?
Find out which words work together and produce more natural sounding English with the Oxford Collocations Dictionary app.
- 2[usually before noun] only just achieved or avoided a narrow victory He lost the race by the narrowest of margins. She was elected by a narrow majority. He had a narrow escape when his car skidded on the ice.
- 3limited in a way that ignores important issues or the opinions of other people narrow interests She has a very narrow view of the world. opposite broad
- 4limited in variety or numbers synonym restricted The shop sells only a narrow range of goods. a narrow circle of friends opposite wide
- 5limited in meaning; exact I am using the word “education” in the narrower sense. opposite broad
noun [uncountable] The narrowness of the streets caused many traffic problems. We were surprised by the narrowness of our victory. His attitudes show a certain narrowness of mind. Which Word?narrow / thinThese adjectives are frequently used with the following nouns:
| narrow ~ | thin ~ |
|---|---|
| road | man |
| entrance | legs |
| bed | ice |
| stairs | line |
| majority | layer |
| victory | material |
| range | cream |
- Narrow describes something that is a short distance from side to side. Thin describes people, or something that has a short distance through it from one side to the other.
- Thin is also used of things that are not as thick as you expect. Narrow can be used with the meanings “barely achieved” and “limited.”
the honest and morally acceptable way of living His wife is trying to keep him on the straight and narrow.See narrow in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Check pronunciation: narrow