slumber
Americanverb (used without object)
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to sleep, especially lightly; doze; drowse.
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to be in a state of inactivity, negligence, quiescence, or calm.
Vesuvius is slumbering.
verb (used with object)
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to spend or pass (time) in slumbering (often followed by away, out, orthrough ).
to slumber the afternoon away.
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to dispel or forget by slumbering (often followed byaway ).
to slumber cares away.
noun
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Sometimes slumbers. sleep, especially light sleep.
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a period of sleep, especially light sleep.
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a state of inactivity, quiescence, etc.
verb
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(intr) to sleep, esp peacefully
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(intr) to be quiescent or dormant
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to spend (time) sleeping
noun
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(sometimes plural) sleep
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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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
Maybe you want to identify what messes with your slumber, such as working out late, or monitor your patterns over time.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 22, 2026
Goalkeeper Pope had to make big saves to deny both Lucas Paqueta and Max Kilman, before West Ham levelled, but those warnings failed to awaken Newcastle from their slumber.
From BBC • Nov. 2, 2025
‘I will sleep now,’ he said; and the Elf led him to a bower beside Pippin, and he threw himself upon a bed and fell at once into a dreamless slumber.
From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien
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.
