narrower

Narrower is the comparative form of the adjective narrow. It describes something that has less width or breadth than another object, or something that has a more restricted scope or degree.

In physical contexts, narrower can describe dimensions such as a street, corridor, or doorway that is thinner than usual. It can also apply to objects like channels, passages, or gaps. In figurative uses, narrower can refer to restricted options, focus, or range, such as a narrower range of temperatures, a narrower audience, or a narrower set of implications.

Morphology and usage notes: narrower is formed by adding the suffix -er to the base adjective narrow. The corresponding superlative is narrowest. For one-syllable adjectives, -er is the standard way to form comparatives, though in some contexts “more narrow” may be used for emphasis or stylistic reasons. In most formal writing, narrower is preferred over more narrow.

Related terms include narrowing (the present participle or gerund form), narrowness (the noun form), and compound adjectives like narrow-minded. The concept is commonly used in discussions of design, architecture, geography, and analysis to indicate reduced width, scope, or flexibility relative to another reference point.

See also: width, breadth, dimension, scope, narrowing.