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GRE vocabulary

dormant

adjectiveHigh-frequency wordMore D words

temporarily inactive or sleeping

Word origin: From Latin dormire, to sleep.

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In a sentence

Dormant in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing dormant in a sentence.

The volcano had lain dormant for centuries before erupting.

The volcano had lain dormant for centuries before the first tremors returned.

Synonyms
inactivelatentquiescent
Antonyms
activeawakeoperative
Usage & nuance

Using “dormant” well

Dormant implies temporary, reversible inactivity, with the potential to reawaken, unlike extinct or dead. It applies to volcanoes, seeds, accounts, and latent feelings alike.

Keep going

More GRE words starting with D

dabble

to engage in something superficially or as a casual pastime

dais

a raised platform for speakers or honored guests

dally

to waste time or act without urgency

dampen

to make something slightly wet, or to make a feeling or reaction less strong

dappled

marked with spots or patches of color or light

daunt

to intimidate or discourage with fear or doubt

dawdle

to move slowly or waste time idly

dearth

a scarcity or shortage of something

Common questions

Questions about “dormant”

Dormant (adjective) means temporarily inactive or sleeping
Here is dormant used in an example sentence: "The volcano had lain dormant for centuries before erupting." Another example: "The volcano had lain dormant for centuries before the first tremors returned."
Common synonyms for dormant include inactive, latent, quiescent.
Antonyms of dormant include active, awake, operative.
Clusters with inactive, latent, and quiescent in Sentence Equivalence. Its antonyms active, awake, and operative supply the contrast for a reactivation cue.
Yes. Dormant is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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