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boredom

American  
[bawr-duhm] / ˈbɔr dəm /

noun

  1. the state of being bored; the feeling of being wearied by dullness, tedious repetition, etc.

    Synonyms:
    ennui, tedium, weariness, doldrums, dullness
    Antonyms:
    amusement, diversion, excitement
boredom British  
/ ˈbɔːdəm /

noun

  1. the state of being bored; tedium

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of boredom

First recorded in 1850–55; bore 1 + -dom

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.

Phones and tablets have provided people of all ages with an ever-present source of entertainment, but Jane says that both adults and children could benefit from embracing boredom a bit more.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

Envy, boredom and other unpleasant emotions have value that can be too easily overlooked.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

The harsh environment would confine people to domes or underground shelters, where boredom and isolation would be real dangers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

Many people order due to “stress, boredom or fatigue,” he said, but generally, delivery should be considered a treat.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 6, 2026

Or will boredom and slavish routine plague us even more than it does today, giving us less of a reason to live limitless lives?

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

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.