2 syllables: low, ered. Stress on low.
LOH-urd
/ˈloʊɚd/
lowered is pronounced LOH-urd (/ˈloʊɚd/). It has two syllables (low-ered), with the stress on "low". Lowered is the past tense or past participle form of lower, meaning to move something downward or to reduce something in amount, level, or intensity. In pronunciation, it ends with a dark, closed syllable and a light, unstressed -ed ending; the stem vowel in ‘low’ is preserved before the /d/ final. Overall, the word functions as a verb or adjective in contexts such as lowering a flag or the lowered temperature. (2-4 sentences, ~60 words).
Lowered is the past tense or past participle form of lower, meaning to move something downward or to reduce something in amount, level, or intensity. In pronunciation, it ends with a dark, closed syllable and a light, unstressed -ed ending; the stem vowel in ‘low’ is preserved before the /d/ final. Overall, the word functions as a verb or adjective in contexts such as lowering a flag or the lowered temperature. (2-4 sentences, ~60 words)
"The crane lowered the crate gently into the truck."
"She lowered her voice so the children wouldn’t hear."
"The temperature was lowered by several degrees overnight."
Pronounce it as /ˈloʊdərd/ in US, /ˈləʊəd/ in UK (often reduced to /ˈləʊəd/ or /ˈlɒərd/ in some dialects), and about /ˈləʊəd/ in Australian speech. The primary stress sits on the first syllable: LOH-derd. Start with the diphthong /oʊ/ as in go, then a light schwa or /ə/ in the second syllable, and finish with a clear /d/ plus rollover into the final alveolar stop. Mouth position: lips rounded for /oʊ/ then relax for /ər/ or /əd/; tongue high-mid for /d/ release. IPA: US /ˈloʊdərd/; UK /ˈləʊəd/; AU /ˈləʊəd/.
Common mistakes include flattening the /oʊ/ to a pure /o/ or /ɔ/ vowel, and mispronouncing the final /ərd/ as /ər/ or dropping the final /d/. To correct: keep the /oʊ/ diphthong intact, then add a brief /ər/ before the /d/ with a light vocalization, not a heavy /r/ or /d/ merging. Ensure the final /d/ is released clearly, not swallowed. Practice: LOH-derd with a crisp final /d/.
US: strong /oʊ/ sound; rhotic /r/ in the second syllable; clear /d/ at the end. UK: shorter /əʊ/ and often non-rhotic, with a softer /d/; vowel quality leans toward /əʊ/ in some regions; AU: /ˈləːəd/ or /ˈləʊəd/ with a more centralized or broader /ə/ in the second syllable and often a flapped or stopped /d/ in rapid speech in casual contexts. IPA references help: US /ˈloʊdərd/; UK /ˈləʊəd/; AU /ˈləʊəd/ or /ˈləːəd/.
The difficulty lies in preserving the diphthong /oʊ/ while transitioning into a light, unstressed second syllable and a final /d/ cluster. In fast speech, the /d/ may blend with a preceding schwa, becoming /ɹ/ or omitted. Maintaining a clear /d/ release after a short /ə/ or /ər/ requires precise timing of tongue tip elevation and air pressure. Practice with slow-repetition and isolation of the final consonant helps.
A unique feature is the combination of the heavy initial stress on LOH and the lighter, often reduced second syllable, where an unstressed /ər/ becomes a schwa or schwa+r blend in rapid speech. You’ll want to monitor the transition from a rounded lip position for /oʊ/ to a relaxed jaw and tongue for /ər/ or /əd/. Visualize the mouth moving from rounded to relaxed without adding extra lip rounding on the second syllable.
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Lowered originates from the verb lower, from the Old English laeran or lēaran, related to Old High German lēren and Dutch verlaeren, all connected to the concept of moving down or bringing down. The word appears in Middle English as loweren and gradually adopted its modern spelling. The suffix -ed marks the past tense and participle form. The semantic evolution traces reduced height or degree: from “to cause to go down” to “having gone down” in mood, level, or status. The word thus combines the base verb with a standard English past tense/participial suffix, preserving the core sense of downward movement or decrease across centuries. First known use attested in late Old English/early Middle English texts, with standardized spelling consolidating by the 16th century as Standard English grammar and orthography evolved.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "lowered" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "lowered"
-wed sounds
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