dearth

/dɜːθ/ (bre, ipa) · /dɜːrθ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdərth/ (ame, mw)

dearth — noun

1. a situation in which very little of something is available when more is needed o

1.名詞C1
釋義

a situation in which very little of something is available when more is needed or wanted

例句

After two dry winters, the valley faced a dearth of water.

pattern: a dearth of + noun phrase

A dearth of science teachers forced our school to cancel labs.

dearth as subject of the clause

同義詞
  • shortage

    The everyday and more neutral word for not having enough of something.

  • scarcity

    More formal and often used for a wider or longer-lasting lack in supply.

  • lack

    Broader and can mean complete absence, not only an insufficient amount.

反義詞
  • abundance

    A large amount of something, often more than enough.

  • plenty

    A common everyday word for having enough or more than enough.

文法句型

a dearth of + noun phrase

用法筆記

Dearth is a formal word and is most often used in the pattern 'a dearth of ...'. In everyday English, people usually choose shortage or lack instead.

常見錯誤

❌The town faced a dearth buses last winter.
✅The town faced a dearth of buses last winter.
💡dearth is normally followed by 'of' before the thing that is in short supply.
❌The region has dearth of nurses.
✅The region has a dearth of nurses.
💡in modern usage, dearth is usually singular in the pattern 'a dearth of ...'.