supine
Americanadjective
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lying on the back, face or front upward.
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inactive, passive, or inert, especially from indolence or indifference.
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(of the hand) having the palm upward.
noun
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(in Latin) a noun form derived from verbs, appearing only in the accusative and the dative-ablative, as dictū in mirābile dictū, “wonderful to say.”
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(in English) the simple infinitive of a verb preceded by to.
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an analogous form in some other language.
adjective
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lying or resting on the back with the face, palm, etc, upwards
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displaying no interest or animation; lethargic
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of supine
First recorded in 1490–1500, supine is from the Latin word supīnus lying face up, inactive
Explanation
You can be described as supine when you're lying face up — for example, your favorite yoga poses might be the supine ones. Someone who is very passive or lethargic could also be called supine — for instance, someone might be supine in the face of continuous threats and insults. The adjective supine comes from a Latin word, supinus, which means “thrown backwards” or “inactive.” Whenever a person or animal is lying on its back, belly-up, it is supine. When your hand is open, palm-up, it is also supine. Supine can even describe a person who gives insufficient resistance, or who is lazy and ineffectual. "When Jack refused to object to the landlord’s repeated — and gouging — rent increases, he was supine."
Vocabulary lists containing supine
The Lazy, Hazy Days of Summer
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Ender's Game
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Metamorphosis
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This was too much even for habitually supine Republican senators, who took their wrath out on Mr. Blanche.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026
That brings us to the supine response of Congress to Kennedy’s actions.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2025
Whether it's cosy fare to view by the fire or in a supine position – or a gentle comedy that you can share with family, we've got you.
From Salon • Dec. 20, 2024
The bodies appear to be laid supine, but most bones have dissolved because of the acidic soil.
From BBC • Oct. 5, 2023
They dashed over to the figure lying supine near an overturned birdbath.
From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
