# dormant

/ˈdɔɹmənt/ (US) · /dˈɔːmənt/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. inactive or sleeping

adjective · CEFR B2

not active at the moment but able to become active again later.

For teachers: temporarily inactive or in a state of suspended animation, though capable of being reactivated.

- The volcano has been dormant for hundreds of years, but scientists still watch it closely.
- The bank notified the customer that her account had become dormant due to three years of total inactivity, requiring a formal request to reactivate it.

Usage: often used to describe volcanoes, seeds, or financial accounts.

### 2. biology

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

when a plant or animal slows down its body to survive cold or dry weather.

For teachers: relating to a state of minimal metabolic activity, typically as a survival strategy during unfavourable environmental conditions.

- Many trees stay dormant during the winter to save energy until spring.
- Certain desert seeds can remain dormant in the parched soil for decades, only germinating when a rare heavy rainfall provides sufficient moisture.

Usage: frequently used in botany and zoology.

### 3. structural beam

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Archaic

a large, heavy piece of wood or metal used to support a floor or roof.

For teachers: a primary horizontal structural member, such as a large crossbeam or joist, used in traditional timber framing.

- The builders placed a thick oak dormant across the room to hold up the ceiling.
- During the restoration of the medieval manor, the architects discovered that the original chestnut dormant had suffered significant rot and required reinforcement.

Usage: primarily found in historical architectural contexts or technical restoration manuals.

## Examples

- The volcano has been dormant for fifty years.
- The old business plan remained dormant until the new manager found it.

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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.