slump

[ sluhmp ]

verb (used without object)

1. to drop or fall heavily; collapse:

   Suddenly she slumped to the floor.

2. to assume a slouching, bowed, or bent position or posture:

   Stand up straight and don't slump!

3. to decrease or fall suddenly and markedly, as prices or the market.
4. to decline or deteriorate, as health, business, quality, or efficiency.
5. to sink into a bog, muddy place, etc., or through ice or snow.
6. to sink heavily, as the spirits.

noun

1. an act or instance of slumping.
2. a decrease, decline, or deterioration.

   Synonyms: setback, reverse, lapse

3. a period of decline or deterioration.
4. any mild recession in the economy as a whole or in a particular industry.
5. a period during which a person performs slowly, inefficiently, or ineffectively, especially a period during which an athlete or team fails to play or score as well as usual.
6. a slouching, bowed, or bent position or posture, especially of the shoulders.
7. a landslide or rockslide.
8. the vertical subsidence of freshly mixed concrete that is a measure of consistency and stiffness.
9. New England Cooking. a dessert made with cooked fruit, especially apples or berries, topped with a thick layer of biscuit dough or crumbs.

Slump

¹

/ slʌmp /

noun

1. the Slump
   another name for the Depression

slump

²

/ slʌmp /

verb

1. to sink or fall heavily and suddenly
2. to relax ungracefully
3. (of business activity, etc) to decline suddenly; collapse
4. (of health, interest, etc) to deteriorate or decline suddenly or markedly
5. (of soil or rock) to slip down a slope, esp a cliff, usually with a rotational movement

noun

1. a sudden or marked decline or failure, as in progress or achievement; collapse
2. a decline in commercial activity, prices, etc
3. economics another word for depression
4. the act of slumping
5. a slipping of earth or rock; landslide

Other Words From

• un·slumped adjective
• un·slumping adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of slump¹

1670–80; originally, to sink into a bog or mud; perhaps imitative ( plump ² )

Word History and Origins

Origin of slump¹

C17: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Low German slump bog, Norwegian slumpa to fall

Example Sentences

Traditional media companies have struggled to shore up their slumping stock prices.

From Los Angeles Times

Almost 11 months ago to the date, Dalton Knecht was in his worst slump of the season.

From Los Angeles Times

Man City may still be second in the Premier League but they are going through a slump in form that hasn't been since Guardiola took the reigns.

From BBC

Justin Herbert had an extraordinary first half before the Chargers slumped and blew a 21-point lead to the Bengals, but the quarterback was clutch in the end.

From Los Angeles Times

Head coach Warren Gatland has presided over statistically the worst Wales' side in their 143-year international rugby history - slumping to a record 11th successive Test match loss with the 52-20 hammering against Australia.

From BBC

Related Words

• collapse
• deteriorate
• droop
• drop
• fall
• fall off
• go down
• hunch
• plummet
• plunge
• sag
• slide
• slip
• slouch
• tumble