poky

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "poky" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone (or something) who moves slowly. For example, "The poky old woman shuffled down the street."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A visit to their office in Camden – a poky room covered in fluorescent flyers and Day-Glo decorations – reveals the quantity of stuff they have recovered.

The Guardian - Music

In the poky little room in the Lord's Museum that hosts press conferences, Jade Dernbach looked punch-drunk after 24 hours that had seen him take a couple of wickets in an England ODI win over India, drive overnight from Cardiff to London and then deliver a man of the match performance as Surrey hammered Somerset to lift the C&G Trophy.

The Guardian - Sport

The poky lift carried us creakily upwards.

The Guardian

A lone security guard sits in a poky office by the gate watching a game-show on a black and white television.

The Economist

The museum just needs a way to collect more of their money.When councils find it hard to maintain basic services, many think poky little museums are plausible sacrifices.

The Economist

In the Palace of Westminster many are poky and airless (one corridor is known as the "submarine"), but are close to the chamber.

The Economist

Now, a firm is offering to slake his voracious appetite for new tomes without forcing him to relinquish old ones or, at least, their contents.1DollarScan is the American outpost of the Japanese firm Bookscan, founded to solve the problem of  scant space in Japan's poky urban dwellings and to prevent damage caused by bookshelf-toppling earthquakes.

The Economist

At 15 he started, 48 hours a week chopping up fish in some poky hole, getting shocks from the finning machine, steeping his skinned, sore hands in brine or pickle-juice.

The Economist

Moving from a huge Johannesburg villa with a swimming pool and lemon trees in the garden into a poky European flat that costs twice as much can be dispiriting.

The Economist

Its site, worlds away from the medieval beauty of Oxbridge, is a poky complex of rooms in the Aldwych.The modern expansion has been funded largely by attracting foreign students.

The Economist

CaixaBank, a big Spanish lender, has taken the next step, sending iPad-wielding salesmen out of the branch altogether, to call on clients at their offices.Uniform branch formats are being replaced by a range of set-ups, from large flagship "stores" to poky ones with just a couple of desks.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a space, use "poky" to convey not just small size, but also a sense of being cramped and uncomfortable. This adds a more evocative and negative tone compared to simply saying "small".

Common error

While "poky" is acceptable in news and media, avoid using it in formal or business writing. Opt for more neutral terms like "small", "cramped", or "confined" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The word "poky" primarily functions as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something as being either small and cramped or slow. Ludwig shows examples where "poky" modifies nouns like "room", "office", and "flat".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "poky" is an adjective used to describe something that is either small and cramped or slow. As Ludwig highlights, it commonly appears in News & Media sources to add a negative connotation of discomfort to a description of a space or to indicate a slow pace. While the term is grammatically correct, it's generally considered informal and might be best replaced by more formal synonyms like "cramped" or "restricted" in academic or professional contexts. While "poky" is acceptable for a wide range of writing, use it intentionally to add a certain character to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cramped

Describes a space that is uncomfortably small or restricted.

small

A general term for limited size, lacking the negative connotation of being cramped.

confined

Suggests being restricted or limited in space.

restricted

Indicates limitations in space or movement.

tiny

Emphasizes extreme smallness.

limited

Implies a restriction on the amount of available space.

slow

Focuses on the lack of speed or progress.

lethargic

Describes a state of sluggishness or inactivity.

unhurried

Emphasizes the absence of haste or urgency.

lackadaisical

Implies a careless or indifferent slowness.

FAQs

How can I use "poky" in a sentence?

You can use "poky" to describe something that is small and cramped, such as "a poky apartment" or to describe something that is slow, such as "a poky pace".

What are some synonyms for "poky" when describing a small space?

Alternatives to "poky" when describing a small space include "cramped", "confined", or "tiny". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "poky" a formal or informal word?

"Poky" is generally considered an informal word. In more formal contexts, you might prefer alternatives like "small" or "restricted".

Can "poky" be used to describe something other than physical space?

Yes, "poky" can also be used to describe something slow or lacking in progress. For example, "a poky economy" or "a poky internet connection".