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.
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
Hard to know what she’ll appreciate more: the peaceful slumber or the practical drawstring bag constructed in the same silky fabric as the mask and scrunchie.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 20, 2025
Wake up from your post-World Series slumber, Los Angeles.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 17, 2025
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 bet my sister would have loved to have one. She made Mom get a room in a fancy hotel so she could have a slumber party for her Sweet Sixteenth.”
From "How to Disappear Completely" by Ali Standish
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.
