narrowed

Narrowed is the past tense and past participle of the verb narrow, and can function as an adjective describing something that has been made less wide or restricted. It is used for physical dimensions as well as figurative constraints.

In physical contexts, narrowed describes objects and spaces whose width has been reduced: a narrowed road may have restricted lanes or tighter turns; a corridor or doorway can be described as narrowed, limiting passage; a river, channel, or airway can become narrowed, often due to sediment buildup, erosion, or disease. In medicine, narrowed arteries or airways refer to stenosis or constriction, a condition that may require medical evaluation and procedures such as dilation, stenting, or surgery.

In everyday language, narrowed is common in phrases such as “narrowed down,” which means to reduce a broad set of options to a smaller one (for example, candidates or possibilities). In general usage, it can describe any situation where scope, options, or perspectives are reduced.

Etymology: formed from the verb narrow with the -ed suffix to indicate a completed action or state.

See also: stenosis, constriction, narrowing, bottleneck.