Word forms: comparative duller, superlative dullest, 3rd person singular presenttense dulls, present participle dulling, past tense, past participle dulled
1. adjective
If you describe someone or something as dull, you mean they are not interesting or exciting.
[disapproval]
They are both nice people but can be rather dull.
I felt she found me boring and dull.
The documentary lasts for more than two-and-a-half hours, and there is scarcely adull minute.
Synonyms: boring, tedious, dreary, flat More Synonyms of dull
dullnessuncountable noun
They enjoy anything that breaks the dullness of their routine life.
Synonyms: stupidity, thickness, slowness, dimness More Synonyms of dull
Synonyms: drabness, greyness, dimness, gloominess More Synonyms of dull
Synonyms: tediousness, monotony, banality, flatness More Synonyms of dull
2. adjective
Someone or something that is dull is not very lively or energetic.
The body's natural rhythms mean we all feel dull and sleepy between 1 and 3pm.
Synonyms: lifeless, dead, heavy, slow More Synonyms of dull
dullyadverb [ADVERB after verb]
His eyes looked dully ahead.
dullnessuncountable noun
Did you notice any unusual depression or dullness of mind?
Synonyms: stupidity, thickness, slowness, dimness More Synonyms of dull
Synonyms: drabness, greyness, dimness, gloominess More Synonyms of dull
3. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
A dull colour or light is not bright.
The stamp was a dull blue colour.
Synonyms: drab, faded, muted, subdued More Synonyms of dull
dullyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
The street lamps gleamed dully through the night's mist.
4. adjective
You say the weather is dull when it is very cloudy.
It's always dull and raining.
Synonyms: cloudy, dim, gloomy, dismal More Synonyms of dull
5. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Dull sounds are not very clear or loud.
The long whining whistle of a shell was followed by the dull boom of the explosion.
The coffin closed with a dull thud.
Synonyms: muted, faint, suppressed, subdued More Synonyms of dull
dullyadverb [ADVERB after verb]
He heard his heart thump dully but more quickly.
6. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Dull feelings are weak and not intense.
The pain, usually a dull ache, gets worse with exercise.
I realized with a kind of dull shock that I didn't recognize a single name.
dullyadverb
His arm throbbed dully.
7. adjective
If a knife or blade is dull, it is not sharp.
[old-fashioned]
8. verb
If something dulls or if it is dulled, it becomes less intense, bright, or lively.
Her eyes dulled and she gazed blankly. [VERB]
He can dull your senses with facts and figures. [VERB noun]
Share prices and trading have been dulled by worries over the war. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: cloud over, darken, grow dim, become cloudy More Synonyms of dull
More Synonyms of dull
dull in British English
(dʌl)
adjective
1.
slow to think or understand
2.
lacking in interest
3.
lacking in perception or the ability to respond; insensitive
4.
lacking sharpness; blunt
5.
not acute, intense, or piercing
6.
(of weather) not bright or clear; cloudy
7.
not active, busy, or brisk
8.
lacking in spirit or animation; listless
9.
(of colour) lacking brilliance or brightness; sombre
10.
not loud or clear; muffled
11. medicine
(of sound elicited by percussion, esp of the chest) not resonant
verb
12.
to make or become dull
Derived forms
dullish (ˈdullish)
adjective
dullness (ˈdullness) or dulness (ˈdulness)
noun
dully (ˈdully)
adverb
Word origin
Old English dol; related to Old Norse dul conceit, Old High German tol foolish, Greek tholeros confused
dull in American English
(dʌl)
adjective
1.
mentally slow; stupid
2.
lacking sensitivity; blunted in feeling or perception
dull to grief
3.
physically slow; slow-moving; sluggish
4.
lacking spirit, zest, etc.; not lively; listless, insipid, etc.
5.
not active or busy; slack
a dull period for sales
6.
causing boredom; tedious
a dull party
7.
not pointed or sharp; blunt; not keen
a dull blade
8.
not felt keenly; not acute
a dull headache
9.
a.
not vivid; not brilliant; dim
a dull color
b.
not shiny or glossy; lusterless
a dull finish
10.
not distinct, resonant, etc.; muffled
a dull thud
11.
gloomy; cloudy
dull weather
verb transitive, verb intransitive
12.
to make or become dull
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈstupid
SYNONYMY NOTE: dull is specifically applied to a point or edge that has lost its previous sharpness [a dull knife] and generally connotes a lack of keenness, zest, spirit, intensity, etc. [a dull book, pain, etc.]; blunt is often equivalent to , dull, but specifically refers to a point or edge that is intentionally not sharp [a blunt fencing saber]; obtuse literally applies to a pointed end whose sides form an angle greater than 90°, andfiguratively connotes great dullness of understanding or lack of sensitivity [too obtuse to comprehend]
OPPOSITES: sharp, keen
Derived forms
dullish (ˈdullish)
adjective
dullness (ˈdullness)
noun or ˈdulness
dully (ˈdully)
adverb
Word origin
ME dul < OE dol, stupid, akin to Ger toll < IE *dh(e)wel- < base *dheu-, blow, be turbid > dumb, dwell, OIr dall, blind, Gr thanatos, death
More idioms containing
dull
dull as ditchwater
Examples of 'dull' in a sentence
dull
Tell your wife you love her but your relationship has become dull.
The Sun (2016)
Her ability to make a dull subject interesting makes her stand out.
Computing (2010)
We're that splash of colour in a dull world of grey.
The Sun (2016)
But after a while, the same old things can become a bit dull.
The Sun (2016)
A dull ache or sharp pain in this area?
The Sun (2017)
THERE is seldom a dull moment these days at the Vitality.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Sounds pretty dull but this is what it would mean if Mrs May gives it the nod.
The Sun (2017)
Q I have a rather dull granite kitchen worktop.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Your attitude to love is more practical, which may sound dull, but helps you to build a partnership that will fulfil your dreams with some interesting twists.
The Sun (2016)
This may on the face of it sound a little dull.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This country drama has become rather dull with too much emphasis on the older characters.
The Sun (2008)
It was seen as dull and boring.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The show would be pretty dull if both families were identical.
The Sun (2006)
Their bright red beak and legs will also get a bit duller.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
These practices will not make dull jobs and dull people interesting.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGEMENT: task, responsibilities, practices (1974)
Which is not to suggest for a minute that his show was by any means dull.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
This issue sounds dull but is vital to free speech.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They are betting that monetary policy will go back to being rather dull.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It was a very dull and grey colour behind the gold.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The result is a dull ache in your chest which may spread to your jaw or left arm.
The Sun (2012)
It's kind of grown dull and slow and boring.
Christianity Today (2000)
As when he plays, rarely a dull moment.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
If you thought weather systems were dull, this is the man to set you right.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The weather was dull so he said we'd better wait a while to see if it got any better.
Joan Rice Sand In My Shoes: Wartime Diaries of a WAAF (2006)
There's barely a dull moment.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Word lists with
dull
Weather descriptions
In other languages
dull
British English: dull /dʌl/ ADJECTIVE
boring Something that is dull is not interesting.
That was a very dull book.
American English: dull
Arabic: مـُمِلّ
Brazilian Portuguese: desinteressante
Chinese: 乏味的
Croatian: dosadan
Czech: nezáživný
Danish: kedelig
Dutch: saai
European Spanish: aburrido
Finnish: tylsä
French: ennuyeux
German: langweilig
Greek: πληκτικός
Italian: monotono
Japanese: 面白くない
Korean: 단조로운
Norwegian: matt
Polish: nudny
European Portuguese: desinteressante
Romanian: plictisitor
Russian: скучный
Latin American Spanish: aburrido
Swedish: tråkig
Thai: น่าเบื่อ
Turkish: sıkıcı
Ukrainian: нецікавий
Vietnamese: buồn tẻ
British English: dull /dʌl/ ADJECTIVE
colour A dull colour is not bright.
He wore a dull green jacket.
American English: dull
Arabic: غَيْرُ لامِع
Brazilian Portuguese: opaco
Chinese: 暗的颜色
Croatian: bezbojan
Czech: tlumenýsvětlo, barva
Danish: trist
Dutch: mat
European Spanish: apagado
Finnish: haalea
French: terne
German: matt
Greek: θαμπός
Italian: opaco
Japanese: くすんだ
Korean: 칙칙한
Norwegian: matt
Polish: poszarzały
European Portuguese: opaco
Romanian: mat
Russian: темный
Latin American Spanish: apagado
Swedish: matt
Thai: มัว ทึม
Turkish: soluk
Ukrainian: тьмяний
Vietnamese: xỉn màu
British English: dull VERB
If something dulls or if it is dulled, it becomes less intense, bright, or lively.