Numb Meaning
/nʌm/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjPhysically unable to feel, not having the power of sensation.
adjEmotionally unable to feel or respond in a normal way.
Sentence Examples
My hands are numb from the cold.
The swimmers were numb with cold.
Your gums will get numb in a few minutes.
CEFR Practice Quiz
After sitting in the cold for hours, my fingers became completely ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
My fingers were ____ with cold after spending several hours outside in the snow.
Word Origin & History
From the past participle of nim (“to take”). Compare German benommen (“dazed, numb”) and Old Norse numinn. The final ⟨b⟩ is a later addition; it was never pronounced, and did not appear in the original word.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"[…] when we know that hundreds are rendered homeless every day, and countless thousands are killed and wounded, men and boys mowed down like a field of grain, and with as little compunction, we grow a little bit numb to human misery."
— 1915, Nellie McClung, chapter 2, in In Times Like These, Toronto: McLeod & Allen:
"[…] seeing the dog—somehow that made me feel again. I’d been too dazed, too numb, to feel the full viciousness of it."
— 1966, Truman Capote, In Cold Blood, New York: Modern Library, published 1992, Part One, p. 77:
"[…] he submitted […] as a traitor, his mind numb with vodka, submits to a firing squad."
— 2016, Julian Barnes, The Noise of Time, Random House Canada, Part Three:
"[…] he did lap me
Even in his own garments, and gave himself,
All thin and naked to the numb cold night."
— c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
"The ravviſh danke of clumzie vvinter ramps / The fluent ſummers vaine: and drizling ſleete / Chilleth the vvan bleak cheek of the numd earth, / VVhilſt ſnarling guſts nibble the iuyceles leaues, / From the nak't ſhuddring branch; […]"
— 1600 or 1601 (date written), I. M. [i.e., John Marston], “The Prologue”, in Antonios Reuenge. The Second Part. […], London: […] [Richard Bradock] for Thomas Fisher, and are to be soulde [by Matthew Lownes] […], published 1602, →OCLC, signature A2, recto:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
After sitting in the cold for hours, my fingers became completely ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
My fingers were ____ with cold after spending several hours outside in the snow.