From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishdimdim1 /dɪm/ ●○○ adjective (comparative dimmer, superlative dimmest) 1 darkDARK fairly dark or not giving much light, so that you cannot see well OPP bright in the dim light of the early dawn a dim glow► see thesaurus at dark2 shapeCF a dim shape is one which is not easy to see because it is too far away, or there is not enough light The dim outline of a building loomed up out of the mist.3 → take a dim view of something4 → dim recollection/awareness etc5 eyes literaryBRIGHT# dim eyes are weak and cannot see well Isaac was old and his eyes were dim.6 future chancesFAIL if your chances of success in the future are dim, they are not good Prospects for an early settlement of the dispute are dim.7 → in the dim and distant past8 not intelligent informalSTUPID/NOT INTELLIGENT not intelligent You can be really dim sometimes! —dimly adverb a dimly lit room She was only dimly aware of the risk. —dimness noun [uncountable]
Examples from the Corpus
dim• The reading light over her seat is dim.• I'm playing a guy who's well-meaning but kind of dim.• She's not the brightest kid in the class -- in fact, she's quite dim.• The boy's just a little dim.• The lights were dim.• There were those in the dim corridors of Headquarters who said that his rise had been too fast.• Dying embers gave out a dim glow in the hearth.• He turned, his eyes resting momentarily upon the dim, grey shape of the funerary couch.• I was led through a dim hallway to his office.• For many students the 1970s are dim history.• There was nothing in the room but a table, a chair, and a dim lamp.• His face shadowed by the dim light, he crept out and slipped through a door behind the bridge.• It was impossible to read by the dim light of the fire.• We could only see a dim outline of a ship in the distance.• He saw the dim outline of the taxi-driver's head inside the cab.• That first visit when I stayed at the Al Ain Hilton seemed in the dim past.• There was enough starlight coming in the window to make out the dim shapes of bunkbeds and rucksacks.dimdim2 verb (dimmed, dimming) 1 [intransitive, transitive]BRIGHT# if a light dims, or if you dim it, it becomes less bright The lights in the theatre began to dim.2 [intransitive, transitive]REDUCE if a feeling, quality etc dims or is dimmed, it grows weaker or less Even the rain could not dim their enthusiasm. Hopes of a peaceful settlement have dimmed.3 → dim your headlights/lights→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
dim• The painful memory began to dim.• By that time, witnesses may be unavailable-some may be dead or their memories dimmed.• That gap has fluctuated between about 2. 7 percent and 1. 45, widening whenever prospects for monetary union dim.• When she emerged, the wall-lights had been dimmed and the polished table by the french windows had been set for two.• You're surrounded by strangers, your dozy curiosity in their sayings and doings dimming as the house lights go down.• Even the death of Laura Ashley did not dim City enthusiasm.• Inside, the lobby lights had been dimmed like the interior of an airplane on a night flight.• Her words dimmed our hopes of a peaceful settlement.• Shadowy twilight never dimmed the brightness.• Can you dim the lights? I have a headache.Origin dim1 Old English 