numb
/nʌm/adjective, verb
numb is spelled N-U-M-B: 4 letters and one syllable. It appears 3.4 times per million words in written English, the 14,307th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, numb means “Physically unable to feel, not having the power of sensation” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in numb?
| Letters | 4: N-U-M-B |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 1 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 3.4 times per million words; the 14,307th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is numb?
Numb appears 3.4 times per million words in written English, the 14,307th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce numb?
- /nʌm/
Numb has one syllable (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-numb.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of numb
- number comparative
- numbest superlative
- numbs present, singular, he/she/it
- numbing participle, present
- numbed participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does numb mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Physically unable to feel, not having the power of sensation.
fingers numb with cold
- 2
Emotionally unable to feel or respond in a normal way.
numb with shock; numb with boredom
- 3
Dumb or stupid.
- 4
obsoleteCausing numbness.
verb
- 1
To cause to become numb (physically or emotionally).
The dentist gave me novocaine to numb my tooth before drilling, thank goodness.
- 2
To cause (a feeling) to be less intense.
He turned to alcohol to numb his pain.
- 3
To cause (the mind, faculties, etc.) to be less acute.
- 4
To become numb (especially physically).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Numb in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | gourd, engourdi , engourdir, endormir, anesthésier |
| German | taub, benommen, betäubt, gefühllos, starr , betäuben |
| Portuguese | amortecido, dormente, entorpecido, adormecido |
| Spanish | entumecido, entumido, entorpecido, dormido, adormecido , adormecer |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does numb come from?
From the past participle of nim (“to take”). Compare German benommen (“dazed, numb”) and Old Norse numinn. The final ⟨b⟩ is a later addition; it was never pronounced, and did not appear in the original word.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).