oblivion
/əˈblɪviən/ (bre, ipa) · /əˈblɪviən/ (ame, ipa) · /ə-ˈbli-vē-ən ō-, ä-/ (ame, mw)
oblivion — noun
1. the condition of no longer being remembered or noticed by other people.
the condition of no longer being remembered or noticed by other people.
Many silent film stars faded into oblivion after talking movies became popular.
fade into oblivion
Without local support, the old railway station slowly slipped into oblivion.
Tamar feared her first novel would vanish into oblivion after one bad review.
After the company closed, its once-famous logo passed into oblivion.
By the end of the century, the village custom had fallen into oblivion.
- obscurity
weaker; something in obscurity can still return to public attention
- forgetfulness
usually refers to a person's failure to remember, not the public state of being forgotten
- anonymity
means being unknown by name, sometimes by choice rather than decline
- fame
being widely known and remembered
- remembrance
continued memory or public recall
文法句型
fade into oblivion
slip into oblivion
fall into oblivion
用法筆記
This sense often appears after verbs such as "fade," "slip," "pass," or "fall." It is usually used for fame, memories, traditions, books, songs, or names that people stop noticing over time.
常見錯誤
2. complete destruction of a place or thing, leaving nothing meaningful behind.
complete destruction of a place or thing, leaving nothing meaningful behind.
The air strikes bombed the bridge into oblivion before sunrise.
bomb into oblivion
The wildfire reduced three hillside cabins to oblivion in one night.
reduce to oblivion
Years of mining pushed the small river toward oblivion.
A final storm washed the tiny harbor into oblivion.
Pollution is driving some coral reefs toward oblivion.
- destruction
the general word; not as dramatic as oblivion
- ruin
often means severe damage, but not always total loss
- extinction
used especially when a species or group disappears completely
- survival
continuing to exist despite danger
- preservation
being protected from harm or loss
文法句型
bomb into oblivion
reduce to oblivion
drive toward oblivion
用法筆記
This sense emphasizes complete destruction rather than simple damage. It often follows strong verbs such as "bomb," "blast," "reduce," or "drive," and it is common when speaking about war, fire, weather, or environmental loss.
常見錯誤
3. a complete loss of awareness, especially after alcohol, medicine, sleep, or a he
a complete loss of awareness, especially after alcohol, medicine, sleep, or a heavy blow.
Ezra drank himself into oblivion after hearing the bad news.
drink oneself into oblivion
The boxer was knocked into oblivion by a punch to the jaw.
knock someone into oblivion
The sedative sent Rania into oblivion within a few minutes.
The fever left the child drifting in oblivion all afternoon.
By midnight, the pain pills had sent Anthony into oblivion.
- blackout
often sudden and temporary, especially from alcohol or shock
- stupor
suggests heavy dullness or near-unconsciousness, often from drugs or illness
- unconsciousness
the formal medical word for having no awareness
文法句型
drink oneself into oblivion
knock someone into oblivion
send someone into oblivion
用法筆記
This sense describes a person's total lack of awareness. It is common after verbs such as "drink," "knock," "send," or "drift," and it contrasts with noun/2, which describes a place or thing being destroyed rather than a person losing consciousness.