narrow

Having little space between its sides.

• The road is narrow.
• We walked through the narrow streets.
• This doorway is too narrow for the sofa.

Similar words: thin

Opposites: wide, broad

Common phrases: narrow road, narrow gap, narrow street

Covering only a small range of subjects, activities, or possibilities.

• He has a narrow range of interests.
• The study had a very narrow focus.
• Her knowledge is deep but narrow.

Similar words: limited, restricted

Opposites: broad, wide

Common phrases: narrow range, narrow focus, narrow interests

Involving only a small difference between success and failure, or between two amounts.

• We had a narrow escape.
• The team celebrated a narrow victory.
• She won the election by a narrow margin.

Similar words: slight, small

Common phrases: narrow escape, narrow victory, narrow margin

Allowing very little freedom in how something is understood or done.

• The judge used a narrow interpretation.
• Such a narrow definition excludes many families.
• A narrow reading of the rules left no room for exceptions.

Similar words: restrictive, strict

Opposites: liberal, flexible

Common phrases: narrow interpretation, narrow definition, narrow reading

To make the range or area of something smaller.

• We need to narrow our search.
• She narrowed her choices to two courses.
• Can you narrow down the possible causes?

How to use it: narrow something down to something (We narrowed the list down to three names.)

Similar words: limit, restrict, reduce

Opposites: broaden, expand

Common phrases: narrow the search, narrow the options, narrow something down

To become less wide, or make something less wide.

• The road narrows here.
• They narrowed the entrance to keep cars out.
• The river gradually narrows as you travel upstream.

Similar words: contract

Opposites: widen

Common phrases: narrow the gap, narrow the opening, narrow a road

To partly close your eyes, often because you are angry, suspicious, or looking carefully.

• He narrowed his eyes.
• She narrowed her eyes at my explanation.
• His eyes narrowed when he noticed the missing money.

How to use it: narrow one's eyes at someone/something (She narrowed her eyes at the stranger.)

Similar words: squint

Common phrases: narrow your eyes, narrow one's eyes

A thin passage of water between wider areas of a river, lake, or sea.

• The boat entered a narrow between two islands.
• Strong currents flow through the narrows.
• Ships waited outside the narrows until the tide changed.

Similar words: strait, channel

Common phrases: a rocky narrow, a tidal narrow