numb
Americanadjective
-
number,
comparative
-
numbest
superlative
-
deprived of physical sensation or the ability to move.
fingers numb with cold.
-
manifesting or resembling numbness.
a numb sensation.
-
incapable of action or of feeling emotion; enervated; prostrate.
numb with grief.
-
lacking or deficient in emotion or feeling; indifferent.
She was numb to their pleas for mercy.
verb (used with object)
-
numbs,
present (3rd person singular)
-
numbed,
past participle, past
-
numbing
present participle
adjective
-
deprived of feeling through cold, shock, etc
-
unable to move; paralysed
-
characteristic of or resembling numbness
a numb sensation
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
numbsimple
-
numbssimple
-
have numbedperfect
-
has numbedperfect
-
am numbingprogressive
-
are numbingprogressive
-
is numbingprogressive
-
have been numbingperfect progressive
-
has been numbingperfect progressive
Past
-
numbedsimple
-
had numbedperfect
-
was numbingprogressive
-
were numbingprogressive
-
had been numbingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of numb
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English nome, literally, “taken, seized,” variant of nomen, numen, Old English numen, past participle of niman “to take, steal”; cf. nim 1
Explanation
Numb is an adjective that describes a lack of sensation. After skiing all day, your toes might be numb from the cold. You'd feel numb for hours after hearing that your favorite band broke up. People can feel numb in terms of their feelings and emotions. For example, if you've had your heart broken lots of times, you start to become numb — the breakups don't upset you so much. Numb can also describe being so frightened that you can't move, like being numb with fear when you saw the bear near your campsite. Numb can also mean "to make insensitive," like when the dentist numbs your gums so you won't feel any pain.
Vocabulary lists containing numb
The Watsons Go to Birmingham
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Lesson 1
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The Circuit
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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.
See Examples For:
When people are more dissociated, “they may describe feeling numb, being on ‘autopilot,’ ” Brand says.
From Slate ● Sep. 23, 2026
At this point most of us are numb to the dystopian possibilities.
From Salon ● Sep. 18, 2026
It's because these cars are numb to your driver inputs.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
John’s left arm had atrophied, his hand now basically a claw, and two of his fingers were numb.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
We’re completely numb to it, because it’s constant.
From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri
Manoa Duwai convinced his village in 2009 to create a protected area within their customary fishing grounds on Fiji's Coral Coast after concerns over the small number and size of fish he was catching.
From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026
The company, she said, sees “a lot of potential in the U.S. in terms of the number of stores.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026
“The Batman Part II” began filming in London in June after a number of previous delays while Reeves and Mattson Tomlin wrote the script.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
In what’s forecast to be a close race, even a marginal number of such voters could matter.
From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026
“Pretty tough to be a Cat Person living here so close to Dog Street,” Max said, and I suspected that might be true for any number of people.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
So perhaps it’s fitting that the most recent addition to this sad subgenre is the numbest.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 4, 2025
“It might be that we’re killing it, or that’s it’s slowly dying because we’re reducing it to its numbest form, but I don’t think that has to be,” she said.
From Slate ● Mar. 8, 2019
Relationships falter because videogames get in the way, and life dissolves into a virtual reality that numbs the pain meant to drive our growth.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2025
If the flood numbs Americans to crises and catastrophes that comprise daily life in other parts of the world, can you blame us?
From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2024
The local anaesthetic numbs the nerves in the short term.
From BBC ● Jan. 19, 2024
The native of Puebla, Mexico, suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure and rheumatoid arthritis, which sometimes numbs the joints in his hands, making it difficult to work.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2023
It's the coldness of the snow, yes, but whatever mix of herbal juices my mother has added numbs, as well.
From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
Some contend that numbed investors to the threat, keeping yields and borrowing costs lower than they should have been.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
The numbed stage: The only cease-fire is in the markets.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 26, 2026
"We are in shock and numbed at the news this afternoon. No Garda shift is ever routine, but this one has ended in the most horrendous of circumstances."
From BBC ● May 11, 2025
Is it strange to suggest that, 35 years on, after becoming numbed by synthetic superhero kinetics, Woo’s brand of over-the-top now feels more grounded?
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2024
In the dark aisle of the church Florence stood, his numbed arms outstretched, unafraid of eternity.
From "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya
It’s both an explanation for her withdrawn demeanor and an indication of the permanent numbing that has enveloped her.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
But such incidents have become increasingly commonplace to the point of numbing us.
From Salon ● Aug. 6, 2026
We all know the feeling of doom-scrolling, the mindless numbing of the brain.
From BBC ● May 23, 2026
The numbing lidocaine was injected first and sprayed down my windpipe, making me feel as if I were drowning.
From Slate ● Apr. 18, 2026
It was more than just pain nanites, she must have had all sorts of numbing, rejuvenating chemicals and microbots inside her.
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
