numb — having no sensation; unable to feel anything
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: having no sensation; unable to feel anything
Pronunciation (IPA): /nʌm/
Example Sentences
- After sitting on my foot for an hour during the movie, it went completely numb and I walked like a penguin.
- The shocking news left him numb and unable to respond.
- My brain goes numb every time I try to understand quantum physics.
numb
ADJECTIVE[/nʌm/]
having no sensation; unable to feel anything
having no sensation; unable to feel anything
When your thumb goes numb, your music sounds dumb.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Numb derives from Old English 'numen', which developed from a Germanic root meaning 'to take' or 'to seize'. The word originally described a state of being seized or paralyzed, later evolving to mean lacking sensation or feeling.
Breakdown
Old English 'numen' (taken, seized) → numb. The root relates to Germanic verbs meaning 'to grasp' or 'to hold', with the semantic shift from physical constraint to sensory deprivation occurring over time.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“After sitting on my foot for an hour during the movie, it went completely numb and I walked like a penguin.”
“The shocking news left him numb and unable to respond.”
“My brain goes numb every time I try to understand quantum physics.”
“The cold mountain air numbed their faces within minutes.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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