Numb Definition & Meaning

American

British

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms numb American [nuhm] / nʌm /

adjective

number, numbest

1. deprived of physical sensation or the ability to move.

   fingers numb with cold.

2. manifesting or resembling numbness.

   a numb sensation.

3. incapable of action or of feeling emotion; enervated; prostrate.

   numb with grief.

4. lacking or deficient in emotion or feeling; indifferent.

   She was numb to their pleas for mercy.

verb (used with object)

1. to make numb.

numb British / nʌm /

adjective

1. deprived of feeling through cold, shock, etc

2. unable to move; paralysed

3. characteristic of or resembling numbness

   a numb sensation

"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

verb

1. to make numb; deaden, shock, or paralyse

"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

Other Word Forms

• half-numb adjective
• numbly adverb
• numbness noun
• unnumbed adjective

Etymology

Origin of numb

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English nome, literally, “taken, seized,” variant of nomen, numen, Old English numen, past participle of niman “to take, steal”; nim 1

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.

Somehow, I feel numb and like I’m on fire at the same time.

From Literature

If anything, such a war has been eerily normalized in our collective consciousness and we’ve become remarkably numb to and fatalistic about it.

From Salon

“The lack of investment in these communities has created a culture where this continues to happen, and people are numb to it,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

She said the family was "numb and heartbroken" while Jacob, who has two brothers Joseph, aged two and Joel aged 12, is sleeping a lot.

From BBC

When supplied in large quantities, they can have a numbing effect.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• anesthetize
• desensitize
• dull
• paralyze
• stupefy

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.