slower

Slower is the comparative form of the adjective slow. It can function as an adjective or an adverb in English, and it indicates reduced speed or rate relative to something else. For example, “The train is slower than it was yesterday” uses slower to compare two states; “Go slower” uses it as an adverb in an imperative form.

In everyday use, slower appears in many domains. In transportation, traffic or travel times may be described as slower during rain or construction. In science, a slower reaction rate means the process proceeds more slowly. In technology, a slower computer or a slower network connection implies reduced performance. In music, a slower tempo signals a change in mood or feel.

Usage notes: slower is typically used for direct comparison, as in “slower than.” In formal writing, “more slowly” may be preferred for adverbial use, and phrases like “at a slower rate” are common in technical contexts. The word is the comparative form of slow and is related to the antonym fast, which forms constructions such as “faster” and “fastest” in similar contexts.