slumber
/ˈslʌmbə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈslʌmbər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsləm-bər/ (ame, mw) · /ˈslʌm.bər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈslʌm.bɚ/ (ame, ipa)
slumber — noun
- slumbersingular
- slumbersplural
1. the state of sleeping, especially when the sleep is peaceful and deep; a literar
the state of sleeping, especially when the sleep is peaceful and deep; a literary or formal word for sleep itself.
Maja sank into a deep slumber the moment her head touched the pillow.
collocation: deep slumber
A sudden clap of thunder woke the baby from her peaceful slumber.
pattern: from + possessive + slumber
The old farmhouse was silent, and even the dogs had fallen into slumber.
Felipe lay in undisturbed slumber while the snow piled up outside the window.
The nurse spoke softly so as not to disturb the patient's slumber.
- wakefulness
the state of being awake
文法句型
in/from one's slumber
a deep/peaceful slumber
用法筆記
Strongly literary or formal; in everyday Taiwan-relevant English a learner should write 'sleep' unless aiming for a poetic tone. Often appears with adjectives like 'deep', 'peaceful', 'undisturbed'.
常見錯誤
2. a period during which something — a town, an industry, an idea — is not active o
a period during which something — a town, an industry, an idea — is not active or producing anything, as if it were asleep.
The small fishing town lay in slumber until the new ferry route brought back tourists.
figurative: town in slumber
After ten years of slumber, the volcano on the island suddenly began to rumble again.
figurative: years of slumber for a volcano
The country's space programme finally stirred from its long political slumber in the 1990s.
Adina argued that the old factory's machinery had been in slumber for far too long.
- dormancy
more scientific; often used of plants, viruses, volcanoes
- inactivity
plainer everyday word, no metaphor of sleep
- hibernation
implies a planned, seasonal pause rather than neglect
- activity
the ordinary opposite for an organisation or place
文法句型
a long/deep slumber
stir from its slumber
用法筆記
Always figurative: applied to organisations, places, technology, or natural features that have been dormant. Distinguish from sense 1 by subject — sense 1's subject is a living being, sense 2's subject is a thing or institution.
常見錯誤
slumber — verb
- slumberpresent simple I / you / we / they
- slumbers3rd person singular
- slumbering-ing form
- slumberedpast simple
1. to be asleep, especially in a quiet or peaceful way; a literary or formal way of
to be asleep, especially in a quiet or peaceful way; a literary or formal way of saying 'sleep'.
The twins slumbered peacefully in their grandmother's bed while the storm raged outside.
collocation: slumber peacefully
Yara slumbered for almost twelve hours after the long flight from São Paulo.
pattern: slumber for + time period
The cat slumbered on the warm windowsill all through the afternoon.
Old William slumbered in his armchair, a half-finished newspaper across his knees.
While the city slumbered, a single baker was already lighting the ovens.
文法句型
slumber peacefully/deeply
slumber on/under/beside something
用法筆記
Intransitive only — you cannot say 'slumber the baby'. Common in novels and poetry; rare in conversation. Often used in narrative 'while X slumbered…' clauses to set a quiet background scene.