Word
numb
US/ˈnəm/
UK/nˈʌm/
Definitions
01no physical feeling
B1 · Intermediate
adj. unable to feel anything in a part of your body, often because of cold or an injury.
adj. deprived of physical sensation, typically due to cold, restricted circulation, or anaesthesia.
“My fingers went numb after I spent an hour outside in the snow without gloves.”
“The patient reported that her lower lip remained numb for several hours following the dental procedure, making it difficult for her to speak clearly.”
Usage
Often follows the verb 'to go' or 'to feel'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02no emotional feeling
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. unable to feel or react to emotions because of a big shock or great sadness.
adj. emotionally desensitised or unresponsive, usually as a psychological defence mechanism against trauma or grief.
“She felt completely numb after hearing the news of the accident.”
“In the weeks following the tragedy, he moved through his daily routine in a numb state, unable to process the magnitude of his loss.”
Teaching tip
Learners often confuse this with 'bored'; clarify that 'numb' implies a heavy, shocked state rather than a lack of interest.
Synonyms
03to make unfeeling
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to make a part of the body or a feeling lose its sensation.
v. to deprive of sensation or to render a feeling less intense. Transitive — requires a direct object.
“The doctor gave him an injection to numb the area before the stitches.”
“He used work as a distraction to numb the pain of his recent heartbreak, staying at the office until late every evening.”
Usage
Takes a direct object, such as a body part or an emotion.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From the past participle of nim (“to take”). Compare German benommen (“dazed, numb”) and Old Norse numinn. The final ⟨b⟩ is a later addition; it was never pronounced, and did not appear in the original word.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/numb