Definition of 'dull'
Word forms: comparative duller, superlative dullest, 3rd person singular present tense dulls, present participle dulling, past tense, past participle dulled
1. adjective
If you describe someone or something as dull, you mean they are not interesting or exciting.
[disapproval]dullness uncountable noun
2. adjective
Someone or something that is dull is not very lively or energetic.
dully adverb [ADV after v]
4. adjective
You say the weather is dull when it is very cloudy.
5. adjective
Dull sounds are not very clear or loud.
6. adjective [ADJ n]
7. transitive verb/intransitive verb
If something dulls or if it is dulled, it becomes less intense, bright, or lively.
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
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Word Frequency
dull in American English
verb transitive, verb intransitive
12.
to make or become dull
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈstupid
SYNONYMY NOTE: dull is specifically applied to a point or edge that has lost its previous sharpness [a dull knife] and generally connotes a lack of keenness, zest, spirit, intensity, etc. [a dull book, pain, etc.]; blunt is often equivalent to dull, but specifically refers to a point or edge that is intentionally not sharp [a blunt fencing saber]; obtuse literally applies to a pointed end whose sides form an angle greater than 90°, and
figuratively connotes great dullness of understanding or lack of sensitivity [too obtuse to comprehend] OPPOSITES: sharp, keen
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
dullish (ˈdullish)
adjective
dullness (ˈdullness)
noun or ˈdulness
dully (ˈdully)
adverb
Word Frequency
dull in American English
(dʌl) (adjective -er, -est)
adjective
1.
not sharp; blunt
a dull knife
3.
not lively or spirited; listless
4.
not bright, intense, or clear; dim
a dull day
a dull sound
6.
slow in motion or action; not brisk; sluggish
a dull day in the stock market
8.
9.
not intense or acute
a dull pain
transitive verb or intransitive verb
SYNONYMS 1. dull, blunt refer to the edge or point of an instrument, tool, or the like. dull implies a lack or a loss of keenness or sharpness: a dull razor or saw. blunt may mean the same or may refer to an edge or point not intended to be keen or sharp:
a blunt or stub pen; a blunt foil. 2. boring, tiresome, dreary, vapid. 3. apathetic, torpid, inactive, inert. 7. unimaginative, unintelligent, stolid. dull, blunted, slow, stupid are applied to mental qualities. dull implies obtuseness, lack of imagination: a dull child. blunted implies loss of original keenness of intelligence through disease, sad experience,
or the like: blunted faculties. slow applies to a sluggish intellect: a slow mind. stupid implies slowness of mental processes, but also lack of intelligence, wisdom, prudence,
etc.: a stupid person. 10. blunt, deaden, benumb; depress, dishearten, discourage.ANTONYMS 1. sharp, keen. 2. interesting. 7. bright.10.
to make or become dull
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Derived forms
dullness or dulness noun
dully
adverb
Word origin
[1200–50; ME; akin to OE dol foolish, stupid; c. G toll]Word Frequency
dull in British English
verb
12.
to make or become dull
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
dullish (ˈdullish) adjective
dullness (ˈdullness) or dulness (ˈdulness)
noun
dully (ˈdully)
adverb
Word origin
Old English dol; related to Old Norse dul conceit, Old High German tol foolish, Greek tholeros confused
Examples of 'dull' in a sentence
dull
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dull
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In other languages
dull
British English: dull
/dʌl/ ADJECTIVE
boring Something that is dull is not interesting.
That was a very dull book.
- American English: dull /ˈdʌl/
- Arabic: مـُمِلّ
- Brazilian Portuguese: desinteressante
- Chinese: 乏味的
- Croatian: dosadan
- Czech: nezáživný
- Danish: kedelig
- Dutch: saai
- European Spanish: aburrido
- Finnish: tylsä
- French: ennuyeux
- German: langweilig
- Greek: πληκτικός
- Italian: monotono
- Japanese: 面白くない
- Korean: 단조로운
- Norwegian: matt
- Polish: nudny
- European Portuguese: desinteressante
- Romanian: plictisitor
- Russian: скучный
- Spanish: aburrido
- Swedish: tråkig
- Thai: น่าเบื่อ
- Turkish: sıkıcı
- Ukrainian: нецікавий
- Vietnamese: buồn tẻ
British English: dull
/dʌl/ ADJECTIVE
colour A dull colour is not bright.
He wore a dull green jacket.
- American English: dull /ˈdʌl/
- Arabic: غَيْرُ لامِع
- Brazilian Portuguese: opaco
- Chinese: 暗的颜色
- Croatian: bezbojan
- Czech: tlumenýsvětlo, barva
- Danish: trist
- Dutch: mat
- European Spanish: apagado
- Finnish: haalea
- French: terne
- German: matt
- Greek: θαμπός
- Italian: opaco
- Japanese: くすんだ
- Korean: 칙칙한
- Norwegian: matt
- Polish: poszarzały
- European Portuguese: opaco
- Romanian: mat
- Russian: темный
- Spanish: apagado
- Swedish: matt
- Thai: มัว, ทึม
- Turkish: soluk
- Ukrainian: тьмяний
- Vietnamese: xỉn màu
British English: dull
VERB /dʌl/
If something dulls or if it is dulled, it becomes less intense, bright, or lively.
Her eyes dulled and she gazed blankly.
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