supine

American  

[soo-pahyn, soo-pahyn] / suˈpaɪn, ˈsu paɪn /

adjective

1. lying on the back, face or front upward.

2. inactive, passive, or inert, especially from indolence or indifference.

3. (of the hand) having the palm upward.

---

noun

1. (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.”

2. (in English) the simple infinitive of a verb preceded by to.

3. an analogous form in some other language.

supine British  

adjective

1. lying or resting on the back with the face, palm, etc, upwards

2. displaying no interest or animation; lethargic

---

noun

1.  sup.  grammar a noun form derived from a verb in Latin, often used to express purpose with verbs of motion

Other Word Forms

• supinely
  adverb
• supineness
  noun
• unsupine
  adjective

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."

Example Sentences

That brings us to the supine response of Congress to Kennedy’s actions.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2025

John Ryley said broadcasters had become "supine", "incurious" and "compliant" when it comes to the Royal Family.

From BBC • Sep. 15, 2023

Once supine, I experienced the unique and briefly frightening sensation that my ears were traveling up very fast in an elevator while the rest of my body fell gently toward Earth.

From New York Times • Nov. 23, 2022

An unfinished marble sculpture, Andromeda, lies supine, as if waiting for the artist’s return.

From Washington Post • Aug. 5, 2022

I executed a backflip and landed behind the supine mech in a crouch.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline