all-time low

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   the lowest point or worst level that something has ever reached

   Grammar: Countable: use 'a/an' or 'the' before it, e.g. 'an all-time low', 'the all-time low'.

   Patterns

   • reach an all-time low
   • hit an all-time low
   • an all-time low for something
   • at an all-time low

   The company's profits reached an all-time low last quarter.

   After the scandal, public trust in the government hit an all-time low.

   Her confidence was at an all-time low after the rejection.

2. 2nouncountable

   the lowest recorded value or measurement of something, such as a temperature or price

   Grammar: Used with measurements and statistics: 'The temperature fell to an all-time low of -20°C.'

   Patterns

   • an all-time low of + number
   • fall to an all-time low
   • drop to an all-time low

   The stock market fell to an all-time low of 500 points.

   Temperatures dropped to an all-time low of -30 degrees Celsius.

Common combinations

hit an all-time low

Sales hit an all-time low in December.

reach an all-time low

The euro reached an all-time low against the dollar.

at an all-time low

Morale among the staff is at an all-time low.

an all-time low for

This is an all-time low for the team.

Synonyms and how they differ

nadir

Nadir is more formal and literary, meaning the lowest point of a situation or feeling; all-time low is more common in everyday and business contexts.

rock bottom

Rock bottom is informal and suggests the absolute lowest possible point, often in personal struggles; all-time low is more neutral and can refer to any record low.

Opposites

Commonly confused: all-time low or all-time high?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “all-time low”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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