1 C1 formal
To be late or take too long in doing something
"The government was slow in responding to the growing public health crisis."
slow in
C1 formal intransitive
To be late or delayed in doing something; to take longer than expected or appropriate
In plain English
To take too long to do something or to be late in reacting
What does "slow in" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Usage tip
Most commonly found in the construction 'slow in + gerund' (e.g., 'slow in responding'). Slightly formal and less common than 'slow to do something'. More typical in written English.
Words that pair with "slow in"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
responding reacting coming paying acting delivering
How to conjugate "slow in"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
slow in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
slows in
he/she/it
Past simple
slowed in
yesterday
Past participle
slowed in
have + pp
-ing form
slowing in
continuous
Hear "slow in" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "slow in" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "slow in"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
be slow to be tardy delay lag take long
Keep exploring
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