Explanation at your level:
Narrow means not wide. Think of a small path. If you cannot walk with two people side-by-side, the path is narrow. It is the opposite of wide. You can use it for streets, rooms, or boxes. It is a simple word to describe size.
When you describe a space, use 'narrow' to show it is small from side to side. For example, 'The hallway is narrow.' It can also describe a win in a game, like a 'narrow victory.' This means you won, but only by a little bit.
At this level, you can use 'narrow' for abstract ideas. A 'narrow perspective' means someone does not see the whole picture. You can also use the phrasal verb 'narrow down' to mean making a list of options smaller. It is very useful for business and academic writing.
Use 'narrow' to discuss margins and statistics. A 'narrow margin' is common in politics or sports. You can also use the adjective 'narrow-minded' to describe someone who is not open to new ideas. This adds nuance to your descriptions of people and situations.
In advanced English, 'narrow' is often used in figurative ways. You might speak of 'narrowing the scope' of a research project or a 'narrow interpretation' of a law. It implies precision and limitation. It highlights that something is strictly defined or restricted to a specific area.
At the mastery level, consider the etymological roots of 'narrow' as 'distressing.' In literary contexts, it can imply a sense of being trapped or suffocated by circumstances. It is a powerful word when used to describe the tension between freedom and restriction in a narrative or philosophical argument.
Wort in 30 Sekunden
- Narrow means not wide.
- It describes space or abstract scope.
- Commonly used in sports and travel.
- Antonym is wide.
When we use the word narrow, we are talking about physical dimensions or sometimes abstract limitations. Think of a narrow street where two cars can barely pass each other; that is the perfect visual for the word.
It is a very common word in English, and you will hear it used to describe everything from physical objects like narrow bridges to ideas like a narrow point of view. It essentially means that there is not much room to move or breathe.
The word narrow comes from the Old English word nearu, which meant 'strait, confined, or distressing.' It has roots in Proto-Germanic languages, sharing a history with words that imply being squeezed or pressed together.
Interestingly, the word has kept its core meaning for over a thousand years. While it evolved in spelling, the sense of being 'tight' or 'restricted' has remained the heart of the word throughout its journey from Old English to modern usage.
In casual conversation, you might say, 'That is a narrow escape,' meaning you almost got into trouble. In more formal contexts, you might hear about a narrow victory, which means winning by a very small margin.
Common collocations include narrow escape, narrow margin, and narrow path. Using these phrases helps you sound more natural when describing situations where space or success is limited.
1. Narrow escape: barely avoiding danger. Example: 'He had a narrow escape when the car skidded.'
2. Narrow the gap: to get closer to someone. Example: 'The team narrowed the gap in the final minutes.'
3. Narrow-minded: unwilling to accept new ideas. Example: 'Don't be so narrow-minded about new music.'
4. Narrow down: to reduce choices. Example: 'We narrowed down the list to three candidates.'
5. On a narrow path: following a strict way. Example: 'He kept his life on a narrow path of discipline.'
Narrow is an adjective, but it can also function as a verb (e.g., 'to narrow the search'). It is pronounced NAIR-oh in American English and NA-roh in British English.
It does not have a plural form because it is an adjective. It rhymes with words like arrow, sparrow, barrow, farrow, and marrow. Stress is always on the first syllable.
Fun Fact
The word has been in use since before the 12th century.
Pronunciation Guide
The 'a' is short, followed by 'roh'.
The 'a' is like in 'cat'.
Common Errors
- pronouncing the 'w'
- stressing the second syllable
- rhyming with 'now'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
easy
simple
easy
easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Fortgeschritten
Grammar to Know
Adjective placement
The narrow path.
Comparative adjectives
Narrower than.
Superlative adjectives
The narrowest.
Examples by Level
The street is very narrow.
street = road
adjective usage
This box is narrow.
box = container
adjective usage
The path is narrow.
path = walking way
adjective usage
He has a narrow bag.
bag = carry item
adjective usage
The door is narrow.
door = entrance
adjective usage
It is a narrow room.
room = space
adjective usage
The bridge is narrow.
bridge = crossing
adjective usage
My desk is narrow.
desk = table
adjective usage
The car barely fit through the narrow gate.
We had a narrow escape from the rain.
The store is in a narrow alley.
She has a narrow face.
The river is narrow here.
He made a narrow choice.
The gap is too narrow.
The window is narrow.
We need to narrow down our options.
The gap between the two teams is narrowing.
He has a very narrow perspective on life.
The company won by a narrow margin.
The trail becomes narrow near the top.
She narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
The focus of the study is quite narrow.
They live on a narrow street.
The policy has a narrow scope.
He is known for his narrow-minded views.
The candidate won by a narrow majority.
The surgeon made a narrow incision.
The beam of light was narrow.
The definition is too narrow to be useful.
They reached a narrow consensus.
The path is narrow and rocky.
The court took a narrow interpretation of the law.
We must narrow the focus of our inquiry.
The debate was confined to a narrow range of topics.
His narrow expertise is highly valued.
The victory was a narrow one, indeed.
The passage is narrow and dark.
The window for negotiation is narrow.
She narrowed the possibilities to just two.
The narrow confines of the prison cell were stifling.
He adopted a narrow, dogmatic approach to the problem.
The narrow strip of land was contested territory.
A narrow beam of hope remained.
The analysis suffers from a narrow scope.
The narrow chasm looked dangerous.
His narrow vision hindered the project.
The narrow streets of the city are historic.
Häufige Kollokationen
Idioms & Expressions
"narrow the gap"
to get closer to a competitor
The team narrowed the gap to two points.
neutral"narrow escape"
to barely avoid disaster
That was a narrow escape!
casual"narrow-minded"
not open to new ideas
Don't be so narrow-minded.
neutral"narrow down"
to reduce the number of options
I need to narrow down my college choices.
neutral"a narrow squeak"
a very close call
That was a narrow squeak!
informalEasily Confused
both mean small width
thin is for objects, narrow for spaces
thin paper vs narrow street
both imply lack of space
tight is about fit, narrow is about width
tight shoes vs narrow hall
both mean restricted
limited is for quantity, narrow for width/scope
limited time vs narrow path
both imply thinness
slender is for people/objects
slender fingers vs narrow road
Sentence Patterns
The [noun] is narrow.
The door is narrow.
It was a narrow [noun].
It was a narrow escape.
We need to narrow down [noun].
We need to narrow down the choices.
His perspective is narrow.
His perspective is narrow.
The margin is narrow.
The margin is narrow.
Wortfamilie
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Verwandt
How to Use It
8
Formality Scale
Häufige Fehler
Narrowly is an adverb.
Narrowing is a verb action.
Narrow refers to width.
Thin is for objects, narrow for spaces.
Narrow is for space/scope.
Tips
Memory Palace
Picture a narrow hallway in your house.
Native Usage
Use it for close sports wins.
Cultural Insight
Narrow streets are common in Europe.
Grammar Shortcut
Narrower/Narrowest are the forms.
Say It Right
Don't pronounce the 'w' as a 'v'.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't use it for height.
Did You Know?
It comes from Old English.
Study Smart
Use it in a sentence today.
Writing Tip
Use it to describe limited scope.
Speaking Tip
Use it to describe close calls.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Narrow is N-arrow: An arrow is thin and narrow.
Visual Association
A thin arrow flying.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Describe your street using 'narrow'.
Wortherkunft
Old English
Original meaning: confined, distressing
Kultureller Kontext
None, but 'narrow-minded' can be offensive.
Used frequently in sports to describe close games.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Travel
- narrow streets
- narrow bridge
- narrow path
Sports
- narrow victory
- narrow defeat
- narrow gap
Work
- narrow the focus
- narrow the scope
- narrow down options
Daily Life
- narrow escape
- narrow hallway
- narrow doorway
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever had a narrow escape?"
"Do you prefer wide or narrow streets?"
"How do you narrow down your choices?"
"Is your room narrow or wide?"
"Do you think you are narrow-minded?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you had a narrow escape.
Describe a narrow street you have visited.
How do you narrow down your tasks for the day?
Why is it bad to be narrow-minded?
Häufig gestellte Fragen
8 FragenYes, it means to make something smaller.
Only in the compound 'narrow-minded'.
Wide.
It is neutral.
NAIR-oh.
Yes, it is the comparative form.
Yes, it is the superlative form.
To reduce options.
Teste dich selbst
The street is very ___.
Describes width.
What does narrow mean?
Definition of narrow.
Narrow can be a verb.
To narrow something.
Word
Bedeutung
Matching definition.
Correct structure.
We need to ___ down the list.
Phrasal verb.
Which is a synonym for narrow?
Synonym check.
Narrow-minded is a compliment.
It is negative.
Word
Bedeutung
Idiomatic meaning.
Grammar order.
Ergebnis: /10
Summary
Narrow describes something with a small distance from side to side.
- Narrow means not wide.
- It describes space or abstract scope.
- Commonly used in sports and travel.
- Antonym is wide.
Memory Palace
Picture a narrow hallway in your house.
Native Usage
Use it for close sports wins.
Cultural Insight
Narrow streets are common in Europe.
Grammar Shortcut
Narrower/Narrowest are the forms.
