Meaning
- Dormant means inactive, asleep, or not currently in use or growing, but having the potential to become active again. It often describes things like volcanoes, plants, projects, or emotions that are temporarily at rest.
Grammar and Usage
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Part of speech: Adjective
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Pronunciation: /ˈdɔːrmənt/
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Used to describe a state of inactivity that might change later.
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Common patterns:
- be dormant
- remain dormant
- lie dormant
Example structures:
- “The volcano has been dormant for centuries.”
- “Her artistic talent lay dormant for years until she started painting again.”
Common Phrases
- dormant volcano – a volcano that is not erupting but may erupt again.
- dormant phase/period – a time when activity stops temporarily.
- lie dormant – remain inactive or hidden for a time.
Collocations
- remain dormant
- become dormant
- lie dormant
- dormant account
- dormant seed
- dormant power
- dormant volcano
Examples
- The seeds will remain dormant until the spring rains arrive.
- That company’s project has been dormant since last year.
- The volcano has been dormant for over 200 years.
- Her passion for music lay dormant until she heard that song again.
- The virus can stay dormant in the body for months.
- Many insects are dormant during the cold winter.
- His ambitions were dormant, waiting for the right opportunity.
- The bank closed all dormant accounts after a year of inactivity.
- A dormant power within her was finally awakened.
- Even dormant volcanoes can suddenly come to life.
Synonyms or Related
- inactive
- asleep
- latent
- idle
- resting
- hibernating
Antonym
- active
- awake
- alive
- dynamic
- functioning