What does slowly mean?
Word: Slowly
Part of Speech: Adverb
Meaning: Slowly means at a low speed; taking a long time.
Synonyms: gradually, unhurriedly, leisurely
Antonyms: fast, rapidly
How do you spell slowly?
Syllables: slow - ly
Tricky part: Students add an e (slowely, slowley) or double the l (slowlly); none of these extra letters belongs in the word.
Watch out for: slowley, slowely, slowlly
Memory tip: Picture a tortoise writing its name in the sand: slowly, with nothing extra squeezed in.
Idioms and Phrases
- slowly but surely: making progress little by little, but steadily. Example: "Slowly but surely, my handwriting is getting neater."
Slowly in a sentence
Example 1: The ice cream melted slowly in the shade.
Example 2: Read the question slowly before you start writing the answer.
Example 3: The old man climbed the temple steps slowly, holding the railing.
Fun Fact
In music, the Italian word lento tells a player to perform slowly, and largo means slowly and broadly.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word slowly as used in the sentence:
The old tortoise slowly made its way across the garden path.
a) carefully
b) steadily
c) quickly
d) gently
Show answer
c) quickly. A tortoise is slow, and moving quickly is the reverse of that; carefully, steadily and gently all suit a slow walk.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct letter to form a word:
slo_ly
a) e
b) w
c) u
d) o
Show answer
b) w. Slowly is built on slow, so the gap needs the w.
Mingle-Mangle
The sentence hides a jumbled word. Unjumble it and choose the word:
The bullock cart moved ywolls along the dusty village road.
a) slyly
b) slowly
c) solely
d) lowly
Show answer
b) slowly. Six letters with a w and two l's: lowly has no s, and slyly and solely have no w.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is misspelt. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word:
1. calmly 2. lazily 3. patiantly 4. slowly
a) not quickly; at an easy pace
b) in a lazy and idle manner
c) in a peaceful way, without worry
d) without getting cross while waiting
Show answer
d) without getting cross while waiting. Patiently has an e after the ti, so patiantly is the misspelt word; slowly, lazily and calmly are correct.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these happens slowly?
a) a cricket ball hit for six
b) a glacier moving down a valley
c) a balloon bursting with a pop
d) a camera flash going off
Show answer
b) a glacier moving down a valley
2. If you say a plan is slowly taking shape, it is ____.
a) finished and ready to use
b) forming bit by bit over time
c) being kept a secret
d) falling apart very quickly
Show answer
b) forming bit by bit over time
