a narrow strait connecting two bodies of water
"The crew waited anxiously for the fog to lift before attempting to navigate their ship through the narrow strait separating the Atlantic from the Mediterranean."
A narrow passage, especially a contracted part of a stream, lake, or sea; a strait connecting two bodies of water.
"The fishermen waited anxiously for the tide to rise high enough to navigate their small boat through the narrow channel between the mainland and the island."
"The narrow between the two cliffs was too steep for us to climb safely."
Usage: Use "narrow" as a noun only when referring to a specific constricted opening in a body of water, such as the Strait of Gibraltar. Avoid using it this way for general tight spaces or gaps, which are better described with words like "gap," "passage," or "crack."
become more focused on an area of activity or field of study
"She specializes in Near Eastern history"
To reduce in width or extent; to contract.
"The heavy rain caused the swollen river to narrow as it carved deeper into its bed over time."
In plain English: To narrow something means to make it smaller or more limited.
"The heavy traffic narrowed the road to just two lanes."
Usage: Use "narrow" as a verb when describing the action of making something physically thinner or reducing its scope, such as narrowing a road or narrowing the search criteria. Avoid using it to mean becoming tight or squeezing into a space, which is better expressed with words like "squeeze" or "fit.
lacking tolerance or flexibility or breadth of view
"a brilliant but narrow-minded judge"
"narrow opinions"
Having a small width; not wide; having opposite edges or sides that are close, especially by comparison to length or depth.
"The narrow hallway made it difficult for two people to pass each other comfortably."
In plain English: Narrow means something is very thin or not very wide.
"The narrow bridge was crowded with tourists trying to cross before the rain started."
Usage: Use "narrow" to describe something with limited width or distance between its sides, such as a tight alleyway or a slender gap. It functions as an adjective placed directly before the noun it modifies to indicate physical dimensions relative to length or depth.
The word "narrow" comes from Old English nearu, which originally meant not just physically tight but also confined, oppressive, or severe. It traveled into Middle English as narow and eventually became the modern adjective we use today to describe limited space.