1
heraldry
: represented on a coat of arms in a lying position with the head on the forepaws
2
: marked by a suspension of activity: such as
a
: temporarily devoid of external activity
a dormant volcano
b
: temporarily in abeyance yet capable of being activated
seeds will remain dormant until spring
reawaken her dormant emotions
3
b
: having the faculties suspended : sluggish
c
: having biological activity suspended: such as
(1)
: being in a state of suspended animation
(2)
botany
: not actively growing but protected (as by bud scales) from the environment
—used of plant parts
4
: associated with, carried out, or applied during a period of dormancy
dormant grafting
Examples of dormant in a Sentence
The seeds will remain dormant until the spring.
Her emotions have lain dormant for many years.
Recent Examples on the Web
Before a handful of posts in the past week, the HSI Honolulu X account had been dormant since July 2024.
—
David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Feb. 2025
Hanif Kureishi is tweeting for his life Two weeks after the accident, Carlo, one of his three sons, revived the dormant Substack, The Kureishi Chronicles, that his father had once launched.
—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2025
San Jose State and Cal are renewing their football series that has been dormant since 1996, the schools announced on Thursday.
—Darren Sabedra, The Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2025
Heading cuts are best made in winter, when the plant is dormant, or in summer, after its main flush of spring growth.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for dormant 
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David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Feb. 2025
Hanif Kureishi is tweeting for his life Two weeks after the accident, Carlo, one of his three sons, revived the dormant Substack, The Kureishi Chronicles, that his father had once launched.
—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2025
San Jose State and Cal are renewing their football series that has been dormant since 1996, the schools announced on Thursday.
—Darren Sabedra, The Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2025
Heading cuts are best made in winter, when the plant is dormant, or in summer, after its main flush of spring growth.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for dormant
Dictionary Entries Near dormant
Cite this Entry
“Dormant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dormant. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dormant
adjective
dor·mant
ˈdȯr-mənt 
1
: not active but capable of becoming active
a dormant volcano
2
a
: sleeping or appearing to be asleep : sluggish
b
: having growth or other biological activity much reduced or suspended
a dormant bud
3
: of, relating to, or used during a period of no or greatly reduced activity or growth
a dormant spray for fruit trees
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