slumber

1 of 2

verb

slum·​ber ˈsləm-bər How to pronounce slumber (audio)
slumbered; slumbering ˈsləm-b(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce slumber (audio)

intransitive verb

1
a
: to sleep lightly : doze
b
: sleep
2
a
: to be in a torpid, slothful, or negligent state
b
: to lie dormant or latent
slumberer noun

slumber

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: sleep
b
: a light sleep
2

Examples of slumber in a Sentence

Verb she slumbered for hours while the train rolled on slumbering restlessly in the tropical heat Noun She fell into deep slumber. a toddler looking so innocent and peaceful in slumber
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The debauchery gets cut short when the vampires struggle to slumber and realize that housekeeping swept away their ancestral dirt. Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 29 Oct. 2024 The camera zooms in on her slumbering face as revellers dance in slow motion amid green lights and empty beers. Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2024
Noun
Nomura has ridden a wave of deals and trading as Japan’s stock and bond markets rebound from years of slumber. Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune Asia, 1 Nov. 2024 These simple lifestyle tweaks could salvage your slumber (and your sanity). Caroline Tien, SELF, 28 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for slumber 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'slumber.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English slomren, slombren, frequentative of slumen to doze, probably from slume slumber, from Old English slūma; akin to Middle High German slumen to slumber

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of slumber was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near slumber

Cite this Entry

“Slumber.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slumber. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

slumber

1 of 2 verb
slum·​ber ˈsləm-bər How to pronounce slumber (audio)
slumbered; slumbering -b(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce slumber (audio)
1
: to sleep usually lightly
2
: to exist without being active
a slumbering volcano
slumberer noun

slumber

2 of 2 noun

More from Merriam-Webster on slumber

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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