Boredom
/ˈbɔːrdəm/
nounB1
Definition
Boredom means a state of feeling tired and unhappy because you have nothing interesting to do or see. It happens when your mind is not busy or stimulated (excited or active). People often feel boredom when they wait too long or repeat the same thing many times.
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See It in Action
The feeling of being uninterested or tired because of no activity or excitement
- •I felt boredom during the long car ride without music.
- •She tried to read a book to escape her boredom.
- •Boredom can make people look for new hobbies or friends.
A state when something is dull or not interesting
- •The movie was so slow that it caused boredom in the audience.
- •Repeating the same task every day can lead to boredom.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "boredom" like "tired," but for your mind or feelings instead of your body
- ✓Picture sitting alone in a quiet room with no games, books, or friends to talk to
- ✓It's the feeling when a class or meeting goes on too long and you want it to end
- ✓Sounds like "BORE-dom" → imagine a "bore" (someone or something very dull) making your day slow and empty
- ✓Remember times when you said "I'm so bored!" because nothing fun was happening
- ✓NOT like "sleepiness" (boredom is not about being physically tired, but mentally unstimulated)
- ✓NOT like "happiness" (boredom is a negative feeling, the opposite of joy or excitement)
- ✓NOT like "busy" (boredom happens when you are NOT busy or active)
- ✓NOT like "stress" (stress is a feeling of pressure, boredom is a feeling of emptiness or dullness)
Try Other Words
- •Tedium: the state of being very boring (Use when the situation or task is long and tiresome)
- •Monotony: lack of variety and interest (Use when something is always the same and becomes boring)
- •Restlessness: feeling unable to stay still because you are bored or nervous (Use when boredom causes a need to move or change)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: root "bore" + suffix "-dom" (a suffix that forms nouns meaning a state or condition)
- •Etymology: "bore" comes from Old English meaning to make someone tired or dull; "-dom" is from Old English meaning condition or state
- •Historical development: The word "boredom" appeared in English in the late 19th century to describe the state of being bored
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe feelings of dullness or lack of interest in daily life or activities
Reflect & Connect
•How do different people react when they feel boredom? Can boredom ever be helpful?
•What activities or situations help you to avoid boredom? Why do you think they work?
Fill in the blanks
1.People often feel boredom when they ___ nothing interesting to do for a long time.
2.The long, quiet meeting caused ___ among the employees because it was very slow.
3.Unlike excitement, boredom makes people feel ___ and uninterested in their surroundings.
4.When someone says "I'm bored," they usually want to ___ something new or fun.
5.Boredom is different from tiredness because it affects your ___, not your body.
6.Repeating the same task every day can lead to boredom and a feeling of ___.
7.Sometimes boredom can cause restlessness, which makes people want to ___ or change their activity.