dumb meaning
dumb :
unable to speak
adjective
▪ The girl was born dumb.
▪ The girl was born unable to speak.
▪ He was struck dumb by the news.
▪ He was unable to speak because of the news.
paraphrasing
▪ mute – unable to speak
▪ silent – not speaking
▪ speechless – unable to speak
▪ voiceless – without a voice
Pronunciation
dumb [dʌm]
The stress is on the single syllable 'dumb' and sounds like 'dum'.
Common phrases and grammar about dumb
dumb - Common meaning
adjective
unable to speak
Part of Speech Changes for "dumb"
▪ dumbness (noun) – the state of being unable to speak
▪ dumbly (adverb) – in a way that is unable to speak
Common Expressions with "dumb"
▪ struck dumb – unable to speak suddenly
▪ dumb luck – good luck by chance
▪ dumb question – a question that seems not smart
▪ play dumb – pretend not to know
Important examples of dumb in TOEIC
Vocabulary examples from the TOEIC test
In TOEIC vocabulary questions, dumb is often used to describe someone unable to speak.
Example of a confusing word: mute (silent)
Grammar examples from the TOEIC test
Dumb is used as an adjective, often in contexts where someone is unable to speak.
dumb
Idioms and fixed expressions in TOEIC
struck dumb
means 'unable to speak suddenly', often due to shock or surprise.
play dumb
means 'pretend not to know or understand something'.
Differences between similar words and dumb
dumb
,
mute
differences
Dumb refers to being unable to speak, often due to a condition, while mute can also mean choosing not to speak.
Words with the same origin as dumb
The origin of dumb
The word's etymology is not clear.
Word structure
The analysis of the word's composition is unclear.
Words with the same origin
The word's root is unclear or difficult to confirm.
