Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

oblivion

/əˈblɪviːən/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.32 in modern English

Syllables: obliv-ion
IPA: /əˈblɪviːən/

13

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

4

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The state of forgetting completely, of being oblivious, unconscious, unaware, as when sleeping, drunk, or dead.

Uncountable

noun

The state of being completely forgotten, of being reduced to a state of non-existence, extinction, or nothingness, including through war and destruction. (Figuratively) for an area like hell, a wasteland.

Uncountable

noun

A form of purgatory.

Uncountable

noun

Obsolete; Uncountable

verb

To consign to oblivion; to efface utterly.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"He regularly drank himself into oblivion."
"Only the oblivion of sleep can heal the greatest traumas."
"Due to modern technology, many more people and much more information will not slip into oblivion, contrary to what happened throughout history until now."
"They tried to bomb them into oblivion."
"I will cast them into oblivion!"
"Ordo Malleus''' Inquisitor: I hereby sign the death warrant of an entire world, and consign a million souls to oblivion."

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English oblivion, from Anglo-Norman oblivion, from Latin oblīviō (“forgetfulness”), from oblīvīscor (“to forget”).

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: oblivion, oblīviō

Usage

Inflected Forms

oblivions (plural) oblivions (present, singular) oblivioning (participle, present) oblivioned (participle, past) oblivioned (past)

Derived Forms

obliviate oblivionate oblivionize

Frequently Paired Words

obliviation oblivious oubliette obliteration

Synonyms

forgetness obliviousness limbo

Rhymes With

vivian bolivian vivienne vivien

Questions

How do you pronounce oblivion?: The recorded pronunciation is /əˈblɪviːən/.
What does oblivion mean?: The state of forgetting completely, of being oblivious, unconscious, unaware, as when sleeping, drunk, or dead.
Where does oblivion come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce oblivion

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