numbness

UK: /ˈnʌmnɪs/

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

numb /nʌm/   adj., -er, -est, v. 
adj. 

1. Pathology incapable of feeling sensations, as if under the effects of anesthesia:
   fingers that were numb with cold.
2. empty of emotion;
   stunned:
   felt numb with grief.

v. [~ + object]

3. to make numb.

numb•ing, adj. 
numb•ly, adv. 
numb•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

numb  (num), adj. -er, -est, v. 
adj. 

1. Pathology deprived of physical sensation or the ability to move:
   fingers numb with cold.
2. manifesting or resembling numbness:
   a numb sensation.
3. incapable of action or of feeling emotion;
   enervated;
   prostrate:
   numb with grief.
4. lacking or deficient in emotion or feeling;
   indifferent:
   She was numb to their pleas for mercy.

v.t. 

5. to make numb.

• late Middle English nome literally, taken, seized, variant of nomen, numen, Old English numen, past participle of niman to take, nim¹ 1400–50

numb′ly, adv. 
numb′ness, n.