deafen

American  

[def-uhn] / ˈdɛf ən /

verb (used with object)

deafens, present (3rd person singular) deafened, past participle, past deafening present participle

1. to make deaf.

   The accident deafened him for life.

2. to stun or overwhelm with noise.

   The pounding of the machines deafened us.

3. deaden.

4. Obsolete. to render (a sound) inaudible, especially by a louder sound.

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deafen British  

/ ˈdɛfən /

verb

1. (tr) to make deaf, esp momentarily, as by a loud noise

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• deafeningly
  adverb
• nondeafened
  adjective
• half-deafened
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has deafened
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have deafened
  perfect
• have been deafening
  perfect progressive
• is deafening
  progressive 3rd person singular
• has been deafening
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• deafens
  singular 3rd person
• are deafening
  progressive
• am deafening
  progressive 1st person singular
• deafening
  participle

Past

• had deafened
  perfect
• had been deafening
  perfect progressive
• deafened
  simple
• were deafening
  progressive plural
• was deafening
  progressive singular
• deafened
  participle

Future

• will deafen
  simple
• will have deafened
  perfect
• will be deafening
  progressive
• will have been deafening
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of deafen

First recorded in 1590–1600; deaf + -en ¹

Explanation

To deafen is to make someone permanently or temporarily unable to hear, especially with a very loud noise. If the music at a party deafens you, you'll probably go home early. Things that might deafen you include a fire truck's siren, your brother blowing his trumpet in your ear, or an explosion. You can also use the word in a more figurative way, when something makes you feel overwhelmed by its loudness: "I'm sick of living on this busy road — when the bus goes by, it deafens me!" The earliest verb with this meaning was deaf, which became deafen by the late 16th century.