adj

dormant

DAW-muhnt

adj

Temporarily inactive, as if asleep, but capable of becoming active again.

"The volcano has been dormant for over two hundred years."

"Her old artistic talent lay dormant until she picked up a paintbrush again in retirement."

How to Use Dormant

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishNot active right now, but not dead or gone either — like it's sleeping and could wake up.

Memory tip

Commonly used for volcanoes, seeds, diseases, accounts, and skills that are inactive but not permanently gone.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

extinct →

Common pairings

dormant volcano lie dormant dormant account

dormants plural

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Can you complete this real example?

The volcano has been _____ for over two hundred years.

From Old French, ultimately from Latin dormire, "to sleep."

antonym(s) of “inactive suspended” active extinct

dead obsolete active agile lazy kinetic extinct inactive

informant

antonym(s) of “inactive suspended” active extinct dead obsolete agile lazy kinetic inactive