English Reference
noun · verb

slump

n. · v.
US /ˈsɫəmp/ UK /slˈʌmp/ slump UK spelling slumped, slumps

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.a period when business, prices, or a person's performance falls suddenly and stays low.

    n.a period of poor activity or performance, particularly in an economic or competitive context.

    Simple

    The housing market is in a slump, so it is a difficult time to sell a home.

    In context

    Economists are concerned that the current industrial slump might signal the beginning of a more prolonged recession across the eurozone.

    boomupturn
  2. 02 C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    n.a type of landslide where a large piece of earth or rock moves a short distance down a hill.

    n.a form of mass wasting where a coherent mass of material moves down a slope along a curved surface.

    Simple

    Heavy rains caused a slump on the hillside, blocking the road with mud.

    In context

    The geological survey identified a massive slump along the coastal cliffs, warning that further erosion could destabilize the lighthouse foundation.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    v.to fall heavily or to decrease suddenly in value.

    v.to undergo a sudden or significant decrease in price, value, or amount; to collapse heavily.

    Simple

    Profits slumped by twenty percent after the new tax was introduced.

    In context

    Share prices slumped following the CEO's unexpected resignation, wiping millions off the company's market valuation within hours.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate

    v.to sit or stand with your shoulders down because you are tired or bored.

    v.to assume a drooping or slouching posture; to sit or move in a listless manner.

    Simple

    Don't slump in your chair; it is bad for your back.

    In context

    The exhausted marathon runner slumped against the barrier, gasping for air as volunteers rushed to offer assistance.

Bogotá is not yet the oldest city in the region, but the sudden slump in its birthrate suggests it could soon match other South American capitals, such as Buenos Aires, Santiago and Montevideo.

The Guardian· 8 Sept 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated