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.

---

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

---

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

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

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

Natural disasters are inevitable, but often, the most devastating slumber for decades, sometimes centuries, only awakening when provoked.

From Salon • Mar. 20, 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

January is an odd month in the art world, as it rouses itself from its holiday slumber but struggles to shake off the sleepiness of the past month.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 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