prostration

UK: /prɒsˈtreɪʃən/ US: /prɑstreɪʃən/ ,(pro strā′shən)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

pros•tra•tion  (pro strā′shən), n. 

1. the act of prostrating.
2. the state of being prostrated.
3. extreme mental or emotional depression or dejection:
   nervous prostration.
4. Pathology extreme physical weakness or exhaustion:
   heat prostration.

• Late Latin prōstrātiōn- (stem of prōstrātiō) a lying prone. See prostrate, -ion
• 1520–30

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

pros•trate /ˈprɑstreɪt/   v., -trat•ed, -trat•ing, adj. 
v. 

1. to throw oneself facedown on the ground, as in submission or adoration:
   [~ + oneself] He prostrated himself before the king.
2. Pathology to reduce to physical weakness:
   [~ + object; usually: be + ~-ed] He was prostrated by the heat.

adj. 

3. lying facedown, as to show submission or adoration.
4. helpless;
   exhausted:
   a country left prostrate by natural disasters.

pros•tra•tion /prɑstreɪʃən/  n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

pros•trate  (pros′trāt), v., -trat•ed, -trat•ing, adj. 
v.t. 

1. to cast (oneself ) face down on the ground in humility, submission, or adoration.
2. to lay flat, as on the ground.
3. to throw down level with the ground.
4. to overthrow, overcome, or reduce to helplessness.
5. Pathology to reduce to physical weakness or exhaustion.

adj. 

6. lying flat or at full length, as on the ground.
7. lying face down on the ground, as in token of humility, submission, or adoration.
8. overthrown, overcome, or helpless:
   a country left prostrate by natural disasters.
9. physically weak or exhausted.
10. submissive.
11. utterly dejected or depressed; disconsolate.
12. Botany (of a plant or stem) lying flat on the ground.

• Latin prōstrātus, past participle of prōsternere to throw prone, equivalent. to prō- pro-¹ + strā-, variant stem of sternere to stretch out + -tus past participle suffix; (verb, verbal) Middle English prostraten, derivative of the adjective, adjectival
• (adjective, adjectival) Middle English prostrat 1350–1400

pros•tra•tive  (pros′trə tiv), adj.  pros′tra•tor, n. 
Synonyms

• 6. prone, supine, recumbent.