What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
faintly
Example
I could hear the faintly music coming from the other room. [faintly: adverb]
Example
The stars were shining faintly in the night sky. [faintly: adverb]
Example
She smiled faintly at the memory of her childhood. [faintly: adverb]
dimly
Example
I could only see dimly in the dark room. [dimly: adverb]
Example
He remembered dimly the events of that day. [dimly: adverb]
Example
The street was dimly lit, making it difficult to see. [dimly: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Dimly is less common than faintly in everyday language. Faintly is more versatile and can be used in various contexts, while dimly is more specific and mainly used to describe visual perception.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between faintly and dimly?
Both faintly and dimly are considered neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
