slump

IPA/slʌmp/

KK[slˈʌmp]IPA/slʌmp/

slumppresent simple I / you / we / they
slumpshe / she / it
slumpedpast simple
slumping-ing form

1.verbintransitiveB2

Definition

If prices, sales, or economic values slump, they fall suddenly by a large amount, often after a period of being steady or high.

Example

Global oil prices slumped by nearly 30% in the first three months of the year.

slump + by + percentage

The company's shares slumped to an all-time low after the scandal broke.

slump + to + level

Common collocations

prices slump
sales slump
profits slump
demand slumps
shares slump

Synonyms

plummet
stronger and more dramatic than slump; suggests a very steep, rapid fall
drop sharply
less dramatic than slump; a neutral way to describe a steep fall
decline
slower, more gradual; no connotation of suddenness

Antonyms

soar
sudden sharp increase, opposite of slump
surge
sudden powerful increase

Grammar Patterns

slump + by [amount]

slump + to [level]

Usage Note

Often used with a prepositional phrase beginning with 'by' (to indicate the amount of the fall) or 'to' (to indicate the new lower level). Subject is typically a market figure: prices, sales, profits, demand, or shares.

Common Mistakes

Sales slumped down last month.

Sales slumped last month.

'slump' already includes the idea of downward movement, so 'down' is unnecessary.

The temperature slumped to 10 degrees.

The temperature dropped / fell to 10 degrees.

'slump' is not used for physical measurements like temperature or height.

2.verbintransitiveB1

Definition

To fall, sit, or lie down heavily and suddenly, especially because you feel very tired, weak, or upset.

Example

Exhausted after the twelve-hour shift, Mei-Lin slumped onto the sofa and closed her eyes.

slump + onto + object (showing collapse onto surface)

When Omar heard the terrible news, he slumped against the wall and slid to the floor.

Common collocations

slump into a chair
slump over the table
slump against the wall
slump forward

Synonyms

collapse
more dramatic; can suggest losing consciousness entirely
sink
slower and gentler movement downwards
slouch
less dramatic; describes a relaxed or lazy posture rather than a sudden fall

Antonyms

straighten up
to make your body upright again
sit up
to move into an upright sitting position

Grammar Patterns

slump + into/onto/over/down

Usage Note

Almost always followed by an adverb or prepositional phrase showing direction or location (into, onto, over, against, forward, to the ground). Without this phrase the verb feels incomplete.

Common Mistakes

He slumped.

He slumped into the chair.

The verb needs a prepositional phrase or adverb to sound natural.

slumpsingular
slumpsplural

1.nounB2

Definition

A sudden and large drop in the price, sales, or estimated worth of something, usually compared against an earlier higher level.

Example

The housing market experienced a sharp slump after the central bank raised interest rates.

a sharp slump in [market/sector]

Car manufacturers reported a 20% slump in sales compared to last year.

Common collocations

a slump in sales
a profit slump
a market slump
an economic slump

Synonyms

decline
gentler and more gradual than a slump; less dramatic
plunge
similar strength to slump; suggests a very fast drop
downturn
broader and longer-lasting than a single slump

Antonyms

boom
a period of strong growth, the opposite of a slump in sales or prices
surge
a sudden large increase

Grammar Patterns

a slump in [something]

a [adjective] slump

Usage Note

Commonly used in financial news and business reports. Often modified by adjectives like 'sharp', 'serious', 'dramatic', or 'massive'.

2.nounB2

Definition

A period, lasting months or years, during which an economy or a major industry is doing very badly, with falling production, high unemployment, and low consumer spending.

Example

The country's manufacturing sector has been in a deep slump since the factory closures began.

be in a + [adjective] slump

During the economic slump of the early 1990s, many young professionals struggled to find work.

Common collocations

economic slump
a deep slump
in a slump
emerge from a slump
a prolonged slump

Synonyms

recession
a technical term in economics; less severe than a depression, but more formal than slump
depression
much more severe and longer-lasting than a slump
downturn
milder and more neutral; can be shorter than a slump

Antonyms

boom
a period of strong economic growth and prosperity
recovery
the process of returning to normal economic health after a slump

Grammar Patterns

in a slump

a [adjective] slump

Usage Note

Stronger and more general than noun sense 1 (FALL IN VALUE OR SALES). This sense refers to an extended period of poor economic conditions, not just a single drop in a figure. Often used with 'economic' or the name of a specific industry.

Common Mistakes

There is a slump in my savings account.

The balance of my savings account has fallen.

'slump' is too dramatic for a personal bank balance.

3.nounB2

Definition

A short period when you feel very tired, have little energy, and find it difficult to concentrate or work effectively.

Example

Many office workers experience an afternoon slump around 3 p.m. and reach for coffee or a snack.

afternoon slump (common collocation for post-lunch tiredness)

To avoid the mid-morning slump, Yuna started eating a protein-rich breakfast instead of sugary cereal.

Common collocations

afternoon slump
energy slump
mid-day slump
get through a slump

Synonyms

lull
a quieter or less active period; can also apply to physical energy
downtime
neutral; a period of rest, not necessarily negative
low
informal; can refer to both energy and mood

Antonyms

energy boost
a sudden increase in energy, opposite of an energy slump
burst of energy
a short, intense period of high energy

Grammar Patterns

a [adjective] slump

[time of day] slump

Usage Note

Most commonly used in the phrase 'afternoon slump' to describe the natural drop in energy many people feel after lunch. Can also be used with times of day: 'mid-morning slump', 'late-afternoon slump'.

4.nounB2

Definition

A period during which a sports player or team performs much worse than usual, losing games or failing to meet their usual standards.

Example

The basketball team snapped their five-game losing slump with a decisive victory over the defending champions.

snap / break a slump (end it)

The young tennis star was in a terrible slump, losing seven of her last eight matches.

Common collocations

in a slump
hit a slump
snap a slump
a batting slump
a scoring slump
a losing slump

Synonyms

losing streak
more specific; refers only to a series of losses, not just poor performance
bad patch
informal British English; milder than slump
dry spell
used especially when a player is not scoring or winning for a period

Antonyms

winning streak
a series of consecutive wins, opposite of a slump for a team
hot streak
a period of excellent performance

Grammar Patterns

in a slump

a [number]-game slump

Usage Note

In sports journalism, 'slump' is very common. Common verb collocations for ending a slump: 'snap', 'break', 'shake', 'come out of'. Duration adjectives: 'two-game', 'season-long', 'career-worst'.

5.nounB1

Definition

A way of holding your body, especially with your shoulders and head drooping forward and downward, that makes you look tired, sad, or lacking energy.

Example

Teenagers often develop a slump from spending hours hunched over their phones and laptops.

"Nobody picked me for their team," said Sofia, her shoulders dropping in a sad slump.

shoulders dropping in a slump (body-language expression)

Common collocations

a slump of the shoulders
sit in a slump
shoulder slump

Synonyms

slouch
more common and general than slump for describing bad posture
hunch
suggests rounding the back and shoulders forward
droop
can apply to the head or shoulders sagging downward

Antonyms

straight posture
upright, aligned body position
upright position
sitting or standing with a straight back

Grammar Patterns

a slump of the [body part]

Usage Note

This sense describes a physical posture, not a change in financial or performance measures. It is often used in the phrase 'a slump of the shoulders' to describe a gesture showing sadness, defeat, or exhaustion.

6.noun

Definition

A traditional American dessert, especially common in New England, made by cooking sweetened fruit (such as berries or peaches) in a pan and dropping pieces of biscuit dough on top to cook in the fruit juices, usually served warm.

Example

Grandma's blueberry slump was always the most popular dessert at the family reunion.

Unlike a pie, slump is prepared on the stove top rather than inside an oven, which gives the topping a soft, steamed texture.

regional dessert; stovetop preparation method

Common collocations

blueberry slump
peach slump
berry slump
stovetop slump
New England slump

Synonyms

cobbler
a baked variation with a thicker biscuit topping; more widely known than slump
grunt
a similar steamed dessert from New England
crisp
has a crunchy oat-based topping instead of soft dough

Usage Note

This is a regional American English term, not widely known outside the United States. Related dishes include 'grunt' (similar but steamed), 'cobbler' (baked), and 'crisp' (with a crunchy topping). The name 'slump' may come from the way the dough 'slumps' or settles into the hot fruit.

Word family

slumped
adjectiveB1
slumping
adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

All four words describe periods when an economy is performing badly, but they differ in severity, duration, and technical precision. 'Slump' is the most general and least technical term — it can describe a short or long period of poor economic performance without a precise definition, and it is used in both formal and informal contexts. 'Recession' is a formal economic term defined as two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth; it is more technical and specific than 'slump'. 'Depression' is a much more severe and prolonged economic crisis, with extremely high unemployment and a deep fall in production — the Great Depression of the 1930s is the classic example. 'Downturn' is the mildest and most neutral of the four; it describes any movement from growth toward decline, without suggesting how long or how serious the period will be. In news reporting, 'economic slump' and 'recession' are often used interchangeably by non-specialists, but economists make clear distinctions. For example: 'The country entered a recession last quarter, but experts disagree on whether this is a short-term downturn or the beginning of a prolonged slump.'

slump ↗recession ↗depression ↗downturn ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

a slump in demand
a sharp slump
in a slump
snap a slump
emerge from a slump
hit a slump

Prepositions

Etymology

imitative originEnglish

The word 'slump' first appeared in English in the 1600s, probably created to imitate the sound or feeling of something heavy sinking into mud or soft ground. The earliest meaning was 'to fall or sink into a muddy or wet place.' By the 1700s, it was being used for any heavy, uncontrolled downward movement of a person's body. The financial and economic meanings — a sudden fall in prices or a period of poor business — developed in the late 1800s, as stock markets and industrial economies became a major part of everyday life. The use of 'slump' for a sports performance downturn came in the early 1900s. The dessert sense is an American regional term from the 1800s, possibly named from the way the dough 'slumps' or sinks into the hot fruit.

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slump

slump — verb

1. If prices, sales, or economic values slump, they fall suddenly by a large amount

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. To fall, sit, or lie down heavily and suddenly, especially because you feel very

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

slump — noun

1. A sudden and large drop in the price, sales, or estimated worth of something, us

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

2. A period, lasting months or years, during which an economy or a major industry i

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. A short period when you feel very tired, have little energy, and find it difficu

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

4. A period during which a sports player or team performs much worse than usual, lo

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

5. A way of holding your body, especially with your shoulders and head drooping for

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

6. A traditional American dessert, especially common in New England, made by cookin

Usage Note

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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