verb
lower
To have a gloomy or threatening appearance.
Dark clouds lower over the valley.
Etymology
The older verb described a sullen or frowning appearance. It extended from faces to skies and other things that appear dark, gloomy, or threatening.
More examples
- His face lowered as he heard the bad news.
- The sky had lowered all afternoon.
- A lowering bank of clouds covered the hills.
Forms
lower · lowers · lowered · lowering
Similar words
- scowl
- Shows an angry facial expression.
- glower
- Looks angrily or threateningly.