oblivion

noun

obliv·i·on ə-ˈbli-vē-ən How to pronounce oblivion (audio)

ō-,

ä-

: the fact or condition of not remembering : a state marked by lack of awareness or consciousness

seeking the oblivion of sleep

drank herself into oblivion

: the condition or state of being forgotten or unknown

contentedly accepted his political oblivion

… took the Huskers from oblivion to glory—and their two national championships …

D. S. Looney

Did you know?

Oblivion and the River Lethe

Oblivion was derived via Middle English and Anglo-French from Latin oblīvīscī, which means "to forget, put out of mind." Among the more literary synonyms of oblivion is lethe, which originally referred to the mythical River Lethe. According to Greek mythology, Lethe flowed through the Underworld and induced a state of forgetfulness—that is, oblivion—in anyone who drank its water. The poet John Milton is among those to connect the two in literature. He wrote in Paradise Lost "Farr off from these a slow and silent stream, Lethe the River of Oblivion roules Her watrie Labyrinth."

Example Sentences

The technology is destined for oblivion. The names of the people who lived here long ago have faded into oblivion. His theories have faded into scientific oblivion. Her work was rescued from oblivion when it was rediscovered in the early 1900s. After being awake for three days straight, he longed for the oblivion of sleep. She drank herself into oblivion. The little village was bulldozed into oblivion to make way for the airport. See More

Recent Examples on the Web Species spiraling into oblivion, a few extra parts per million of carbon dioxide in the air, sea life gobbling up microplastics—many of our era's ecological calamities are hard to see with unaided eyes.

Joshua Sokol, Scientific American, 16 Sep. 2022 Our chief politics writer, Andrew Tobias wrote a piece this week that explored whether debates between candidates for statewide office are heading into oblivion.

cleveland, 3 Sep. 2022 The Soviet Union wrote itself into oblivion a day later.

The Salt Lake Tribune, 30 Aug. 2022 The Soviet Union wrote itself into oblivion a day later.

Jim Heintz, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Aug. 2022 The Soviet Union wrote itself into oblivion a day later.

Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2022 The Soviet Union wrote itself into oblivion a day later.

Arkansas Online, 30 Aug. 2022 The Soviet Union wrote itself into oblivion a day later.

Bradford Betz, Fox News, 30 Aug. 2022 The Soviet Union wrote itself into oblivion a day later.

Jim Heintz, ajc, 30 Aug. 2022 See More

Word History

Etymology

Middle English oblivioun, borrowed from Anglo-French oblivion, obliviun, borrowed from Latin oblīviōn-, oblīviō "state of forgetting, dismissal from the memory," from oblīv-, stem of oblīvīscī "to forget, put out of mind" (from ob- "toward, facing" + -līvīscī, inchoative derivative of a stem līv- of uncertain meaning and origin) + -iōn-, -iō, suffix of action nouns formed from compound verbs — more at ob-

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

单词	oblivion
释义	oblivion noun obliv·i·on ə-ˈbli-vē-ən ō-, ä- 1 : the fact or condition of not remembering : a state marked by lack of awareness or consciousness seeking the oblivion of sleep drank herself into oblivion 2 : the condition or state of being forgotten or unknown contentedly accepted his political oblivion … took the Huskers from oblivion to glory—and their two national championships … D. S. Looney Did you know? Oblivion and the River Lethe Oblivion was derived via Middle English and Anglo-French from Latin oblīvīscī, which means "to forget, put out of mind." Among the more literary synonyms of oblivion is lethe, which originally referred to the mythical River Lethe. According to Greek mythology, Lethe flowed through the Underworld and induced a state of forgetfulness—that is, oblivion—in anyone who drank its water. The poet John Milton is among those to connect the two in literature. He wrote in Paradise Lost "Farr off from these a slow and silent stream, Lethe the River of Oblivion roules Her watrie Labyrinth." Synonyms forgetfulness nirvana obliviousness See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences The technology is destined for oblivion. The names of the people who lived here long ago have faded into oblivion. His theories have faded into scientific oblivion. Her work was rescued from oblivion when it was rediscovered in the early 1900s. After being awake for three days straight, he longed for the oblivion of sleep. She drank herself into oblivion. The little village was bulldozed into oblivion to make way for the airport. See More Recent Examples on the Web Species spiraling into oblivion, a few extra parts per million of carbon dioxide in the air, sea life gobbling up microplastics—many of our era's ecological calamities are hard to see with unaided eyes. Joshua Sokol, Scientific American, 16 Sep. 2022 Our chief politics writer, Andrew Tobias wrote a piece this week that explored whether debates between candidates for statewide office are heading into oblivion. cleveland, 3 Sep. 2022 The Soviet Union wrote itself into oblivion a day later. The Salt Lake Tribune, 30 Aug. 2022 The Soviet Union wrote itself into oblivion a day later. Jim Heintz, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Aug. 2022 The Soviet Union wrote itself into oblivion a day later. Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2022 The Soviet Union wrote itself into oblivion a day later. Arkansas Online, 30 Aug. 2022 The Soviet Union wrote itself into oblivion a day later. Bradford Betz, Fox News, 30 Aug. 2022 The Soviet Union wrote itself into oblivion a day later. Jim Heintz, ajc, 30 Aug. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle English oblivioun, borrowed from Anglo-French oblivion, obliviun, borrowed from Latin oblīviōn-, oblīviō "state of forgetting, dismissal from the memory," from oblīv-, stem of oblīvīscī "to forget, put out of mind" (from ob- "toward, facing" + -līvīscī, inchoative derivative of a stem līv- of uncertain meaning and origin) + -iōn-, -iō, suffix of action nouns formed from compound verbs — more at ob- First Known Use 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Kids Definition oblivion noun obliv·i·on ə-ˈbli-vē-ən 1 : the state of forgetting or having forgotten or of being unaware or unconscious 2 : the state of being forgotten The tradition has drifted into oblivion. oblivion noun as in nirvana a state of being disregardful or unconscious of one's surroundings, concerns, or obligations for two weeks each year the stressed-out couple enjoy the blissful oblivion that comes with a vacation at the beach Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance nirvana forgetfulness ignorance blindness unconsciousness amnesia obliviousness innocence unawareness nescience insensibility abstraction unfamiliarity preoccupation inattention absorption absentmindedness incognizance inattentiveness Antonyms & Near Antonyms memory consciousness recollection awareness recall remembrance cognizance alertness See More
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oblivion

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

noun

noun