Narrow meaning in English
Learn how to use Narrow correctly with Gymglish.
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Definition
(a) narrow (street): (a) thin (street), (a street) which is not wide, broad, or thick
(a) narrow (vision): (a) limited, uninformed (vision or idea)
(Superman) narrowly (defeated his enemy): (Superman) only just (beat his enemy), with a small margin
Examples
- "You're not going to conform to my narrow vision of what a Scottish person is, so why don't you tell me what you're good at?"
Exercise 1
Susan accuses Sigourney of being "narrow minded". Let's take a closer look at this expression!
First, find the literal meaning of the term "narrow".
For example, if a street is "narrow", this means it: .
Next, what does the expression "narrow minded" mean in the context of the dialogue?
Susie is saying that she thinks Sigourney .
First, find the literal meaning of the term "narrow".
For example, if a street is "narrow", this means it: .
Next, what does the expression "narrow minded" mean in the context of the dialogue?
Susie is saying that she thinks Sigourney .
Susan accuses Sigourney of being "narrow minded". Let's take a closer look at this expression!
First, find the literal meaning of the term "narrow".
For example, if a street is "narrow", this means it: has a limited width 1.
Next, what does the expression "narrow minded" mean in the context of the dialogue?
Susie is saying that she thinks Sigourney is intolerant 2.
First, find the literal meaning of the term "narrow".
For example, if a street is "narrow", this means it: has a limited width 1.
Next, what does the expression "narrow minded" mean in the context of the dialogue?
Susie is saying that she thinks Sigourney is intolerant 2.
1 has a limited width: This is the best choice here. When something is "narrow", it is "not wide" or has a "limited width". This adjective can be used to describe many things, including passage ways and even trousers! In some circumstances it shares a similar meaning with "slim" or "thin". Example: "There is a very narrow gap between my desk and my colleague's desk".
1 is very long: If something is "long", it is "tall" or "big in length". This does not share a similar meaning with the term "narrow".
1 is very wide: If something is "wide" it is "broad" or "has a large width". This is in fact the opposite of the term "narrow".
1 has lots of tall buildings: This is not the best choice here. The fact that a street has tall buildings is unrelated to it being "narrow" or otherwise.
2 is intolerant: This is the best choice here. To be "narrow minded" is to have a limited view-point of an issue, or to be prejudiced. Example: "My parents are very narrow-minded people, and they don't like my boyfriend because he has long hair".
2 wants to fight: Although Sigourney is rather aggressive in this dialogue, the term "narrow-minded" does not describe someone who wants to "fight" or "argue".
2 isn't very intelligent: This is not the best answer here. The term "narrow-minded" does not describe someone who is "stupid" or "not intelligent".
2 is selfish: This is not the best answer here. The term "narrow-minded" does not describe someone who is "selfish" or "thinks only of themselves".
Exercise 2
Complete these sentences using terms from the article.
Scientists that life on Mars is likely, but it has not yet been proven. (A term meaning "to assert" or "to state".)
The truck avoided a collision with the pedestrian. (A term meaning "by a small margin", "just", or "barely".)
Because the fingerprints were obtained illegally, the court declared that the evidence was . (A term meaning "compromised", "contaminated" or "false".)
Scientists that life on Mars is likely, but it has not yet been proven. (A term meaning "to assert" or "to state".)
The truck avoided a collision with the pedestrian. (A term meaning "by a small margin", "just", or "barely".)
Because the fingerprints were obtained illegally, the court declared that the evidence was . (A term meaning "compromised", "contaminated" or "false".)
Complete these sentences using terms from the article.
Scientists claim 1 that life on Mars is likely, but it has not yet been proven. (A term meaning "to assert" or "to state".)
The truck narrowly 2 avoided a collision with the pedestrian. (A term meaning "by a small margin", "just", or "barely".)
Because the fingerprints were obtained illegally, the court declared that the evidence was tainted 3. (A term meaning "compromised", "contaminated" or "false".)
Scientists claim 1 that life on Mars is likely, but it has not yet been proven. (A term meaning "to assert" or "to state".)
The truck narrowly 2 avoided a collision with the pedestrian. (A term meaning "by a small margin", "just", or "barely".)
Because the fingerprints were obtained illegally, the court declared that the evidence was tainted 3. (A term meaning "compromised", "contaminated" or "false".)
1 claim: This is correct. To "claim" something is true means to state that it is true (although this might not necessarily be the case). Example: "Boris claims that he wrote this essay alone, but his teachers have their doubts".
2 narrowly: This is correct. "Narrowly" describes a very small margin. It can refer to something physical, like a truck avoiding a collision, or something like a contest or competition that was "close" or "tight". In the article, we read that Houston "narrowly" defeated New Orleans in a competition for the "fattest" American city.
3 tainted: The adjective "tainted" describes something, such as evidence or data, which is invalid or compromised. The term "tainted evidence" is often used in legal contexts to describe evidence which is inadmissible in court due to the way that it was obtained for example. In this article, scientists were worried that their data were tainted because of the surprising results.
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