lifelessly

/ˈlaɪf.ləs.li/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈlaɪf.ləs.li/ (ame, ipa)

lifelessly — adverb

1. in a manner that suggests a person has stopped living, or that makes them appear

1.副詞C1
釋義

in a manner that suggests a person has stopped living, or that makes them appear as though they are no longer alive.

例句

After the crash, Wei's arm hung lifelessly at his side while the rescue team worked.

hung lifelessly — limp, unmoving body part

The patient lay lifelessly on the stretcher, showing no signs of breathing.

lay lifelessly — describing someone who appears to have died

同義詞
  • inanimately

    more technical, often used in medical or scientific writing

  • motionlessly

    focuses on lack of movement rather than the state of being dead

反義詞

用法筆記

Frequently used with verbs of position or falling (lie, hang, collapse, fall) to describe a total absence of muscular control or vital signs.

常見錯誤

❌Binta's hand hung lifeless.
✅Binta's hand hung lifelessly.
💡'lifeless' is an adjective and cannot modify a verb; the adverb 'lifelessly' is needed after an action verb.

2. with so little enthusiasm or interest that the person seems bored, tired, or unw

2.副詞B2
釋義

with so little enthusiasm or interest that the person seems bored, tired, or unwilling to engage with what is happening around them.

例句

Zahra lifelessly stirred her coffee, staring at the rain on the window.

lifelessly stirred — slow, disengaged motion

Dan lifelessly scrolled through his phone during the entire training session.

lifelessly scrolled — bored, uninterested behaviour

同義詞
反義詞

用法筆記

Common with verbs describing daily actions (stir, scroll, wave, repeat) to indicate the action is performed mechanically and without interest. Often interchangeable with 'listlessly' in this sense.

常見錯誤

❌She performed lifelessly on stage and the audience cheered.
✅She performed lifelessly on stage, so the audience looked bored.
💡'lifelessly' implies dullness; a positive outcome contradicts the meaning.

3. with no motion or activity at all; in a completely still and motionless manner.

3.副詞B2
釋義

with no motion or activity at all; in a completely still and motionless manner.

例句

The cat sat lifelessly on the porch, not even turning its head at the passing birds.

sat lifelessly — complete stillness

The old leaves hung lifelessly from the branches on that windless autumn afternoon.

hung lifelessly — absence of any motion in the air

同義詞
  • motionlessly

    more neutral; does not carry the death-like connotation of 'lifelessly'

  • still

    adjective or adverb; simpler and more common in everyday speech

反義詞
  • actively

    with noticeable movement or action

用法筆記

Typically used with verbs of position or existence (sit, hang, rest, lie) to describe the complete absence of motion, without implying death or dullness.

常見錯誤

❌The flag hung lifelessly in the strong wind.
✅The flag hung lifelessly on the calm day.
💡if there is strong wind, the flag cannot be motionless; the context must support stillness.