doldrums

IPA/ˈdɒldrəmz/
KK[dˈoldrəmz]IPA/ˈdəʊldrəmz/

doldrums — noun

1. a situation in which a business, industry, or activity is not growing, succeedin

1.nounB2
Definition

a situation in which a business, industry, or activity is not growing, succeeding, or making any progress

Example

The local housing market has been in the doldrums for nearly two years now.

be in the doldrums for [time period]

With few tourists visiting, the island economy fell into the doldrums last summer.

Common collocations
  • economic doldrums
  • in the doldrums
  • doldrums of the market
  • fall into the doldrums
  • emerge from the doldrums
Synonyms
  • stagnation

    focuses on lack of growth or movement

  • slump

    implies a sharp drop in activity, more dramatic than doldrums

  • recession

    formal economic term for a prolonged downturn

Antonyms
  • boom

    a period of rapid growth and success

  • growth

    steady increase in activity or output

Grammar Patterns

be in the doldrums

the doldrums of [something]

Usage Note

Always used with 'the' — this sense typically appears in the fixed phrase 'in the doldrums' or 'the doldrums of [something]'.

Common Mistakes

The company is doldrums.
The company is in the doldrums.
the word must be used with 'the' and a preposition.

2. a condition of feeling unhappy, uninterested, and without the energy or desire t

2.nounB2
Definition

a condition of feeling unhappy, uninterested, and without the energy or desire to take part in everyday activities

Example

After her best friend moved away, Rachel fell into the doldrums for weeks.

fall into the doldrums

A short walk on the beach lifted Gabriel right out of the doldrums.

lift [someone] out of the doldrums

Common collocations
  • in the doldrums
  • out of the doldrums
  • winter doldrums
  • post-holiday doldrums
  • lift the doldrums
  • shake off the doldrums
  • suffer from the doldrums
Synonyms
  • depression

    stronger and more clinical; doldrums is milder and temporary

  • blues

    informal, similar in tone to doldrums

  • lethargy

    focuses on physical tiredness and lack of energy

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

in the doldrums

lift someone out of the doldrums

suffer from the doldrums

Usage Note

This emotional sense is more personal and temporary than the business/inactivity sense. It often appears with verbs like 'lift', 'shake off', or 'fall into'.

Common Mistakes

I have doldrums today.
I am in the doldrums today.
the word always needs 'the' and is used with 'in'.

3. a part of the ocean near the equator where the wind often drops completely, leav

3.nounC1
Definition

a part of the ocean near the equator where the wind often drops completely, leaving sailing boats unable to move forward for long periods

Example

The crew spent a week trapped in the doldrums, the sails hanging still.

trapped in the doldrums

Amani's grandfather told her stories of being becalmed in the doldrums for weeks.

Common collocations
  • the doldrums of the Atlantic
  • trapped in the doldrums
  • cross the doldrums
  • doldrums belt
  • equatorial doldrums
Synonyms
  • horse latitudes

    another calm belt at around 30° north and south, distinct from the equatorial doldrums

Antonyms
  • trade winds

    steady, predictable winds that blow toward the equator, opposite of the calm doldrums zone

Grammar Patterns

the doldrums

in the doldrums

the doldrums of [ocean region]

Usage Note

This geographic sense refers to the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), a belt of low pressure around the equator. Historically a hazard for sailing ships.

Common Mistakes

We sailed through doldrums.
We sailed through the doldrums.
always needs the definite article.

Word family

  • doldrum
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

While all four words describe a lack of activity or growth, 'doldrums' (noun/1) is the mildest and most informal of the group. 'Stagnation' suggests a complete lack of change or development, often used in economics and biology. 'Slump' implies a sudden, sharp drop from a previous higher level — a stock market slump, for instance. 'Recession' is a formal, technical term for two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth, carrying more gravity than the others. 'Flatness' is a finance term meaning no upward or downward movement. Use 'doldrums' when the feeling is one of boredom and stalled progress rather than crisis: "The advertising industry has been in the doldrums since the client cut its budget" — here 'stagnation' would feel too clinical and 'recession' too severe.

stagnation ↗slump ↗recession ↗flatness ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • the doldrums of winter
  • the doldrums of recession
  • market doldrums
  • post-holiday doldrums

Adverbs

  • stuck in the doldrums
  • economically in the doldrums

Phrases

  • fall into the doldrums
  • lift out of the doldrums
  • emerge from the doldrums
  • be trapped in the doldrums
  • shake off the doldrums

Prepositions

  • in the doldrums
  • out of the doldrums

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

The word 'doldrums' is believed to come from the Old English word 'dol' meaning 'foolish' or 'dull', combined with the noun suffix '-rum'. It was first used around 1765 as a sailor's term for the equatorial ocean region where ships could get stuck due to lack of wind — a 'dull' and frustrating place to be. By the early 1800s, its meaning broadened to describe any situation or mood that feels stuck, inactive, or depressing.

First known use

1765

1765, in the meaning defined at sense 1