How to pronounce dim
Say it like DIM. Dim is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce dim. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DIM
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Dim pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DIMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of dim
American and British speakers say dim in essentially the same way: /dɪm/ in the US and /dɪm/ in the UK.
British respelling: DIM.
What does dim mean?
- lacking in light; not bright or harsh“a dim light beside the bed”“subdued lights and soft music”
- lacking clarity or distinctness“a dim figure in the distance”“only a faint recollection”
- made dim or less bright“the dimmed houselights brought a hush of anticipation”“dimmed headlights”
- switch (a car's headlights) from a higher to a lower beam
- become dim or lusterless“the lights dimmed and the curtain rose”
- make dim or lusterless“Time had dimmed the silver”
Where does dim come from?
From Middle English dim, dym, from Old English dim, dimm (“dim, dark, gloomy; wretched, grievous, sad, unhappy”), from Proto-West Germanic *dimm, from Proto-Germanic *dimmaz (“dark”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰem- (“to whisk, smoke; obscure”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with dim
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of dim.
Questions about saying dim
How do you pronounce dim?
Say DIM. The American pronunciation is /dɪm/. In British English it is /dɪm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in dim?
Dim is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: DIM.
Do Americans and Brits say dim the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪm/ and the British form is /dɪm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.