slim
/slɪm/ (bre, ipa) · /slɪm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈslim/ (ame, mw)
slim — adjective
- slimpositive
- slimmercomparative
- slimmestsuperlative
1. having a body shape that is thin in an attractive and healthy way, without looki
having a body shape that is thin in an attractive and healthy way, without looking too skinny or weak.
Eri has kept her slim figure by walking to work every day.
collocation: slim figure
The blue dress made Nadia look even slimmer than she normally did.
comparative: look + slimmer
Baraka wore a slim-fit jacket that matched his trousers perfectly.
After six months of training, João noticed his waist had grown noticeably slimmer.
The magazine featured a slim model on its cover for the spring collection.
- overweight
more body weight than is considered healthy for a given height
- plump
pleasantly round or full; softer opposite than 'overweight'
文法句型
slim + noun
be + slim
get/grow/become + slimmer
常見錯誤
❗ 'She is very slim and tall.' ✅ 'She is slim and tall.' — 'slim' already describes a positive thinness; adding 'very' can sound unnatural and may imply too thin.
2. very small in size, degree, or likelihood, especially when talking about chances
very small in size, degree, or likelihood, especially when talking about chances, amounts, or differences.
There is a slim chance of rain this weekend, so let's plan the picnic.
collocation: slim chance
The company survived the year on a very slim budget after the market crashed.
collocation: slim budget
Christopher won the election by a slim margin of just forty-two votes.
Defne's hopes of getting into the programme are slim without higher test scores.
The restaurant operates on such a slim profit that one bad month could close it.
- large
great in size, amount, or degree
- significant
large enough to be noticed or have an effect
- generous
larger or more plentiful than usual; used for budgets or portions
文法句型
slim + noun
be + slim
there is a slim chance that...
常見錯誤
❗ 'The chance is slim to success.' ✅ 'The chance of success is slim.' — 'slim' is followed by 'of', not 'to', when describing a possibility.
slim — verb
- slimpresent simple I / you / we / they
- slims3rd person singular
- slimming-ing form
- slimmedpast simple
1. to try to reach a lower body weight by cutting back on what you eat and increasi
to try to reach a lower body weight by cutting back on what you eat and increasing physical activity, typically for health or appearance.
Sivan decided to slim down before her brother's wedding in July.
phrasal: slim down
The doctor advised Vivek to slim by cutting out sugary drinks and snacks.
pattern: slim by + method
Heloísa has been slimming for months and has already lost eight kilograms.
Leo tried to slim by joining a gym and following a meal plan from his coach.
- lose weight
more general and neutral; does not imply diet plus exercise
- diet
focuses specifically on food restriction, not necessarily exercise
- slim down
phrasal verb; slightly more informal and commonly used than 'slim' alone
- gain weight
to increase body weight, whether intentionally or not
- put on weight
informal equivalent of 'gain weight'
文法句型
slim (by + method)
slim down
be slimming
用法筆記
The verb 'slim' is almost always intransitive, though the phrasal form 'slim down' can be used transitively (e.g., 'slim down the workforce'). In informal British English, 'slimming' is a common gerund used in product names ('slimming tea', 'slimming club').
常見錯誤
❗ 'I want to slim my stomach.' ✅ 'I want to slim down my stomach.' or 'I want to slim down.' — 'slim' alone is not transitive; use 'slim down' for a specific body part.
❗ 'She slimmed last month.' ✅ 'She started slimming last month.' — 'slim' as a verb often sounds more natural in continuous forms or with 'down'.
slim — noun
1. a word used in East Africa to refer to AIDS, a serious illness that damages the
a word used in East Africa to refer to AIDS, a serious illness that damages the body's immune system and makes it unable to fight infections.
The community health worker explained how slim is transmitted and how to prevent it.
regional term in health education context
Baraka's uncle was diagnosed with slim several years ago and now receives regular treatment.
Local radio stations in the region run awareness campaigns about slim every dry season.
A nurse at the clinic explained that slim can be managed with proper medication and nutrition.
文法句型
slim (uncountable, no article)
用法筆記
This term is used primarily in East African countries, especially Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, in informal and community health contexts. It refers to the wasting symptoms associated with advanced HIV. In international medical or formal English, use 'AIDS' or 'HIV/AIDS'. Some communities may consider the term stigmatising, so sensitivity is advised.