# boredom

/ˈbɔɹdəm/ (US) · /bˈɔːdəm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/boredom
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. the feeling of being bored

noun · CEFR A2

the feeling of being tired and unhappy because something is not interesting or you have nothing to do.

For teachers: the state of being weary and restless through lack of interest or lack of stimulation. Uncountable in general usage.

- The children complained of boredom because it was raining and they couldn't go outside.
- To alleviate the sheer boredom of the long-haul flight, he brought several thick novels and a collection of crossword puzzles.

### 2. a specific period of being bored

noun · CEFR B2

a particular time or situation where you feel bored.

For teachers: a specific instance or duration of being bored. Countable in this specific sense.

- After a long boredom at the office, he was happy to finally go home.
- The summer was marked by occasional boredoms that were only interrupted by the arrival of the weekly post.

## Examples

- The long wait caused a lot of boredom.
- She tried to read a book to cure her boredom during the flight.
- The monotony of the daily routine bred a deep sense of boredom that no amount of entertainment could fully dispel.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.