slumber

American  

[sluhm-ber] / ˈslʌm bər /

verb (used without object)

1. to sleep, especially lightly; doze; drowse.

2. to be in a state of inactivity, negligence, quiescence, or calm.

   Vesuvius is slumbering.

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verb (used with object)

1. to spend or pass (time) in slumbering (often followed by away, out, orthrough ).

   to slumber the afternoon away.

2. to dispel or forget by slumbering (often followed byaway ).

   to slumber cares away.

noun

1. Sometimes slumbers. sleep, especially light sleep.

2. a period of sleep, especially light sleep.

3. a state of inactivity, quiescence, etc.

slumber British  

/ ˈslʌmbə /

verb

1. (intr) to sleep, esp peacefully

2. (intr) to be quiescent or dormant

3. to spend (time) sleeping

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noun

1. (sometimes plural) sleep

2. a dormant or quiescent state

Other Word Forms

• slumberer noun
• slumberless adjective
• unslumbering adjective

Etymology

Origin of slumber

1175–1225; (v.) Middle English slumeren, frequentative of slumen to doze, derivative of Old English slūma sleep ( -er ⁶ ); compare German schlummern; (noun) Middle English slomur, slomber, derivative of the v.

Example Sentences

Nvidia’s stock has awakened from its slumber, clocking its seventh consecutive day of gains.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

Football awoke from its slumber in June 2020, squeezing the end of a season into a couple of months.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

However, if the U.S. bats do not rouse from their slumber, the championship game will be a game the Americans curse forever.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 16, 2026

But Miss Piggy was my slumber mate well past the time of putting aside childish things and replacing ancient bedclothes.

From Salon • Feb. 28, 2026

As Meggie felt herself drift off to sleep again, Mo's face stayed with her in her slumber.

From "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke

Related Words

• coma
• dormancy
• stupor