dead

A2 · Elementary

adj. not working or having no power.

adj. inoperable or lacking electrical charge.

“I couldn't call you because my phone battery was dead.”

“The technician confirmed that the server was dead and required a complete hardware replacement.”

B1 · Intermediate

adj. a place with no activity or people.

adj. lacking activity, excitement, or people; unexpectedly quiet.

“The town centre is usually dead on a Monday night.”

“The party was completely dead until the band started playing and more guests arrived.”

B1 · Intermediate Informal

adj. feeling extremely tired.

adj. utterly exhausted or worn out.

“I'm dead after that long walk in the park.”

“After working a double shift at the hospital, the nurse felt dead and went straight to sleep.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Medicine

adj. having no feeling in a part of your body.

adj. lacking physical sensation; experiencing temporary numbness.

“My arm went dead because I was sleeping on it.”

“The local anaesthetic left his jaw feeling dead for several hours after the dental procedure.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Slang · Informal

adj. used to say that something is very funny.

adj. used hyperbolically to indicate an extreme emotional reaction, usually to something humorous.

“Did you see that video? I'm dead.”

“The comedian's latest sketch was so relatable that the entire comment section was just people saying they were dead.”

B1 · Intermediate Informal

adv. completely or extremely.

adv. used as an intensifier meaning completely, absolutely, or very.

“You are dead right about the price of this car.”

“The archer was dead certain that his aim was true despite the heavy crosswinds.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adv. exactly in a certain position or time.

adv. precisely or exactly in a specific direction or at a specific time.

“The arrow hit the target dead centre.”

“The ship was heading dead ahead toward the lighthouse in the thick fog.”

B1 · Intermediate Plural noun

n. people who have died.

n. those who are no longer living; used with 'the'.

“In some cultures, people have festivals to remember the dead.”

“The monument was erected to honour the dead who fell during the Great War.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. the middle of a quiet or dark time, like night or winter.

n. the period of greatest intensity, darkness, or stillness.

“The phone rang in the dead of night and woke everyone up.”

“The explorers set out in the dead of winter, facing temperatures far below freezing.”