listless
Meaning: Lacking energy, enthusiasm, or interest; too tired or indifferent to care about anything.
Listless implies not merely physical tiredness but a deeper absence of motivation or engagement. It suggests someone who cannot summon the will to act or take interest in their surroundings. The word is often used to describe the effects of illness, grief, or depression. Common collocations include 'listless and apathetic,' 'a listless performance,' and 'listless heat.' The noun form is 'listlessness.'
Examples
- She spent the afternoon in a listless daze, turning the pages of a magazine without reading a single word. 她整个下午都恹恹地发呆,翻着杂志却一个字也没有读进去。Pasó la tarde en un letargo apático, pasando las páginas de una revista sin leer una sola palabra.彼女は午後をぼんやりとした無気力の中で過ごし、雑誌のページをめくりながらも一語も読んでいなかった。그녀는 오후를 멍한 무기력 속에서 보내며, 잡지의 페이지를 넘겼지만 단 한 글자도 읽지 않았다.
- The students grew listless as the lecture dragged on past the two-hour mark without a break. 讲座拖过了两小时还没有休息,学生们变得无精打采。Los estudiantes se fueron quedando apáticos a medida que la clase se prolongaba más de dos horas sin descanso.講義が2時間を超えても休憩がないまま続くと、学生たちは気力を失っていった。강의가 쉬는 시간 없이 2시간을 넘기자 학생들은 점점 기력을 잃어갔다.
- A listless trading session saw the FTSE 100 close virtually unchanged, with investors waiting for the Bank of England's announcement. 一个了无生气的交易日中,富时100指数几乎没有变化地收盘,投资者在等待英格兰银行的声明。Una sesión bursátil apática vio al FTSE 100 cerrar prácticamente sin cambios, con los inversores a la espera del comunicado del Banco de Inglaterra.活気のない取引セッションで、FTSE100はほぼ横ばいで引け、投資家たちはイングランド銀行の発表を待っていた。활기 없는 거래 장에서 FTSE 100은 거의 보합으로 마감했으며, 투자자들은 영란은행의 발표를 기다리고 있었다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: literary, journalism, general
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Middle English 'listless,' from 'list' meaning desire or inclination (from Old English 'lystan,' to please) plus the suffix '-less.' The original sense was lacking desire or appetite.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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