The Meaning of Oblivion: What It Is and How To Use It

Do you know the definition of oblivion? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word oblivion, including its definition, etymology, usage, example sentences, and more!

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What does the word oblivion mean?

According to Collins English Dictionary and the American Heritage Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, the word oblivion is a noun that refers to a state of nonexistence or unconsciousness. It can also refer to the state of being forgotten like an intentional overlooking, unimportant, or destroyed. Oblivion is four syllables – ob-liv-i-on, and the pronunciation of oblivion is əblɪviən.

A person’s oblivion or person’s obliviousness could include the forgetting of offenses, or a sort of negative act in the act of oblivion, distraction, remission of punishment, a domestic spasm, the vacancy of oblivion, and more.

Many different languages also contain words that mean oblivion. You may notice that many of these translations of oblivion look and sound similar to the word oblivion. These are called cognates, which are often formed when two words in different languages have the same root or language of origin. This list of translations of the word oblivion is provided by Word Sense.

  •  Portuguese: esquecimento‎ (masc.)
  •  Polish: nieświadomość‎ (fem.)
  •  Greek: λησμονιά‎ (fem.), λήθη‎ (fem.)
  •  Georgian: გულმავიწყობა‎
  •  Turkish: nisyan‎, unutma‎
  •  French: oubli‎ (masc.)
  •  Latin: oblīviō‎ (fem.)
  •  Ido: oblivieso‎
  •  Dutch: vergeetachtigheid‎
  •  Italian: oblio‎ (masc.)
  •  Spanish: olvido‎ (masc.)
  •  Latvian: aizmirstība‎ (fem.), aizmirsība‎ (fem.)
  •  Hungarian: feledés‎
  •  Finnish: hajamielisyys‎, unohtelu‎
  •  Ukrainian: забуття‎ (neut.)
  •  Czech: zapomnění‎ (neut.)
  •  Russian: забы́вчивость‎ (fem.)
  •  German: Vergessen‎ (neut.)
  •  Danish: glemsel‎ (common)

What is the origin of the word oblivion in linguistics?

According to Etymonline, the word oblivion has been used since late c14 Middle English oblivioun which comes from the Old French oblivion/Anglo-French oblīviōn/Anglo-Norman oblivion, Latin oblīviōn, Latin oblivionem (the nominative oblivio and oblivisci/oblīvīscī, the past participle oblitus. This may come from the Latin lēvis, suffix ion/iōn and Proto-Indo-European roots lehiu and slei/lei.

What are synonyms and antonyms of the word oblivion?

There are many different words that a person could use in place of the word oblivion. These words are called synonyms, which have the same definition as the word oblivion. Learning synonyms is a great way to expand your mind and vocabulary. This list of synonyms of the word oblivion is provided by Power Thesaurus

  •  nonbeing
  •  afterlife
  •  expiry
  •  lethe
  •  unmindfulness
  •  mortality
  •  nothing
  •  sciolism
  •  neglect
  •  unimportance
  •  forgetfulness
  •  empty-headedness
  •  ending
  •  nirvana
  •  unconsciousness
  •  ruination
  •  philistinism
  •  siberia
  •  stupor
  •  absentmindedness
  •  inscience
  •  loss of memory
  •  senselessness
  •  nowhere
  •  syncope
  •  short memory
  •  anonymity
  •  left field
  •  abyss
  •  darkness
  •  shallowness
  •  dying
  •  end
  •  blockout
  •  decease
  •  nihility
  •  uncouthness
  •  lapse of memory
  •  half-knowledge
  •  out there
  •  destruction
  •  forgetting
  •  stupefaction
  •  nonexistence
  •  namelessness
  •  finis
  •  ruin
  •  memory loss
  •  unawareness
  •  denseness
  •  inconspicuousness
  •  mental blankness
  •  void
  •  nothingness
  •  passing
  •  blankness
  •  sleep
  •  state of unconsciousness
  •  death
  •  nullity
  •  insensitivity
  •  blank
  •  inattention
  •  carelessness
  •  unfamiliarity
  •  cessation
  •  indifference
  •  unenlightenment
  •  disregard
  •  total blank
  •  absence of mind
  •  incomprehension
  •  blackness
  •  limbo
  •  lack of education
  •  eclipse
  •  obliviousness
  •  nescience
  •  abeyance
  •  bewilderment
  •  blackout
  •  benightedness
  •  termination
  •  obliteration
  •  non-recognition
  •  forget
  •  extinction
  •  blindness
  •  demilitarized zone
  •  trance
  •  eternal rest
  •  insensibility
  •  amnesty
  •  callowness
  •  obscurity
  •  mental incapacity
  •  swoon
  •  amnesia
  •  annihilation
  •  coma
  •  emptiness

There are also numerous different words and phrases that have the opposite meaning of oblivion. These opposite words are known as antonyms. Learning antonyms is another quick and easy way to expand your vocabulary. This list of antonyms of oblivion is also provided by Power Thesaurus.

  •  caution
  •  preserve
  •  bully pulpit
  •   eye
  •  futile hope
  •  attainment
  •  sentience
  •  focus of public interest
  •  age of reason
  •  stardom
  •  all over
  •  fuss
  •  existence
  •  discernment
  •  center stage
  •  commemoration
  •  floodlight
  •  focus of media attention
  •  focus of public attention
  •  cock sparrow
  •  dozen
  •  foglamp
  •  prominence
  •  acknowledgment
  •  contemplate
  •  idea
  •  expertise
  •  observe
  •  familiarity
  •  professional practice
  •  spotlight
  •  favor
  •  gentle reminder
  •  focus of attention
  •  eminence
  •  focus of interest
  •  public eye
  •  notoriety
  •  galaxy
  •  awareness raising
  •  apprehension
  •  catbird seat
  •  full monty
  •  exposure
  •  consideration
  •  senses
  •  fame
  •  focus of media interest
  •  firm grasp
  •  flashlight
  •  appreciation
  •  fifteen minutes of fame
  •  awareness-raising
  •  retain
  •  regard
  •  retrospection
  •  consciousness
  •  maintain
  •  attentiveness
  •  recognition
  •  think
  •  chronicle
  •  shrewdness
  •  scrutiny
  •  confession
  •  focus
  •  carefulness
  •  concentration
  •  commemorate
  •  memory
  •  attention
  •  awareness
  •  thought
  •  save
  •  reflection
  •  conscious
  •  memories
  •  sustain
  •  feeling
  •  understanding
  •  recollection
  •  recall
  •  heed
  •  attend
  •  remembrance
  •  resurrection
  •  consider
  •  mindfulness
  •  intelligence
  •  intellect
  •  remind
  •  perception
  •  recollect
  •  conscience
  •  celebrity
  •  alertness
  •  conserve
  •  cognizance
  •  remember
  •  sense

How can the word oblivion be used in a sentence?

There are many different ways in which the word oblivion can be used in a sentence in the English language. Using words in a sentence is a fantastic way to familiarize yourself with their definitions and add them to your vocabulary. You can also try making flashcards or a quiz for yourself to test your knowledge of the definitions of different words. Try using this new word of the day in a sentence today! Below are several different examples of ways in which you can use the word oblivion in a sentence to help get your started.

The violin player decided to sink into oblivion after the official disregard of his piece for the concerto.

The former movie star began to slide into oblivion, living in the respite of the shadows.

Maud’s psyche stalled in a momentary oblivion but not  state of permanent unconsciousness when she heard about the doomed progress and malicious vermin in what she thought would be the reinvention of old-line companies into her holy grail of business tech companies.

The athletes fell into a state of oblivion on the gray transit to the Olympics when they received van loads of information that the strife in politics in the country required them to shut down the competition.

Overall, the word oblivion means a state of forgetfulness or unconsciousness. This is often used in the terms fade into oblivion or sink into oblivion.

Sources:

  1. oblivion: meaning, origin, translation | Word Sense 
  2. Oblivion synonyms – 408 Words and Phrases for Oblivion | Power Thesaurus 
  3. Oblivion Antonyms | Power Thesaurus
  4. Oblivion definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary 
  5. oblivion | Origin and meaning of oblivion | Online Etymology Dictionary