numb
/nʌm/ (bre, ipa) · /nʌm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈnəm/ (ame, mw)
numb — adjective
- numbpositive
- numbercomparative
- numbestsuperlative
1. When an arm, leg, lip, or another area feels numb, touch and pain are hard to no
When an arm, leg, lip, or another area feels numb, touch and pain are hard to notice there for a while.
After the ski lift stopped, Cyrus's toes felt numb inside his wet boots.
[body part] felt numb inside + clothing
Linh shook her hand because two fingers had gone numb on the train.
go numb after pressure or awkward position
My dentist warned me that my lip would stay numb until dinner.
João's knee went numb after sitting on the cold stone step.
- sensitive
able to feel touch or pain easily
文法句型
[body part] + feel/go/stay + numb
numb from + cold/pressure/medicine
用法筆記
Often used with body parts and with verbs like feel, go, or stay. It usually describes temporary loss of feeling from cold, pressure, poor blood flow, or medicine.
常見錯誤
2. If you feel numb, shock, grief, or fear has made your emotions and reactions see
If you feel numb, shock, grief, or fear has made your emotions and reactions seem slow or blank.
After the phone call, Sade sat on the kitchen floor, too numb to cry.
too numb to + verb after bad news
Eitan felt numb as the nurse explained why the operation had failed.
feel numb as + shocking news arrives
When the house alarm rang again, Imran opened the door with a numb expression.
Quinn heard the verdict and walked outside feeling numb and unreal.
- responsive
still able to react normally to what is happening
- emotional
showing feelings openly instead of feeling shut down
文法句型
feel numb after + shock/loss
too numb to + verb
用法筆記
Often follows feel or appears after verbs about shock, loss, or fear. Unlike sense 1, it describes emotions and reactions rather than touch in a body part.
常見錯誤
numb — verb
- numbpresent simple I / you / we / they
- numbs3rd person singular
- numbing-ing form
- numbedpast simple
1. To numb a body part, or to numb someone, is to take away normal feeling or make
To numb a body part, or to numb someone, is to take away normal feeling or make a person less able to react.
The icy wind numbed Christopher's cheeks before he reached the bus stop.
numb + body part
A cold spray numbed Ryo's ankle so the coach could tape it.
numb + body part before treatment
Months of fighting had numbed the village to the sound of sirens.
The long speech numbed the class, and nobody laughed at the joke.
- deaden
broader and often used for pain, sound, or emotional effect becoming weaker
- dull
often stresses making feeling or pain less sharp rather than taking it away
- anesthetize
medical and much more formal
文法句型
numb + body part
numb + someone + to + [thing]
用法筆記
Physical uses usually name a body part or a cause such as cold, wind, or medicine. With people or groups, it can also mean making them less responsive, often followed by 'to' plus what no longer affects them.