prostration: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Literary, Medical, Religious
Quick answer
What does “prostration” mean?
The act of lying face down on the ground as a gesture of submission, worship, or extreme humility.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of lying face down on the ground as a gesture of submission, worship, or extreme humility.
A state of extreme physical weakness, exhaustion, or emotional devastation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'Nervous prostration' as an old-fashioned term for a mental breakdown is slightly more common in historical American medical texts.
Connotations
In both varieties, the literal sense carries strong connotations of reverence, abasement, or total defeat. The figurative sense connotes severe, often total, debilitation.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech in both varieties. More common in religious, medical, or literary contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “prostration” in a Sentence
suffer from (a) prostrationfall into (a) prostrationrecover from (a) prostrationcause (a) prostrationin (a state of) prostrationVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “prostration” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Devotees will prostrate themselves towards Mecca during prayer.
- The fever prostrated him for over a week.
American English
- The prisoners were forced to prostrate themselves before the emperor.
- The intense heat prostrated even the fittest hikers.
adverb
British English
- He lay prostrately before the altar. (Very rare, archaic)
American English
- They bowed prostrately in worship. (Very rare, archaic)
adjective
British English
- He lay prostrate on the chapel floor.
- In the prostrate position, her back was completely flat.
American English
- The prostrate form of the wounded soldier was a grim sight.
- A prostrate shrub grows flat along the ground.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly metaphorical: 'The market crash left the company in financial prostration.'
Academic
Used in history/religious studies (ritual), medicine/psychology (historical terms like 'nervous prostration'), and literature (describing characters' states).
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation. Might be used for extreme heat exhaustion: 'He suffered heat prostration after the marathon.'
Technical
Used in medical contexts for extreme exhaustion, especially post-operative or from severe illness. Also in religious studies for specific prayer postures.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “prostration”
Strong
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “prostration”
- Confusing 'prostration' with 'protestation' (a strong declaration).
- Misspelling as 'prostation'.
- Using it for mild tiredness instead of extreme exhaustion.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Prostration' indicates a severe, often complete, state of exhaustion that prevents normal activity, far beyond ordinary tiredness.
In its literal, physical sense, it can be positive within a religious or reverential context, signifying deep devotion or respect. The figurative sense (exhaustion) is almost always negative.
They are completely unrelated. 'Prostration' is about lying flat or being exhausted. 'Obesity' is a medical condition involving excess body fat.
No, it is an outdated, non-specific term from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Modern medicine would use more precise diagnoses like nervous breakdown, depression, anxiety disorder, or post-traumatic stress.
The act of lying face down on the ground as a gesture of submission, worship, or extreme humility.
Prostration is usually formal, literary, medical, religious in register.
Prostration: in British English it is pronounced /prɒˈstreɪʃ(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /prɑːˈstreɪʃ(ə)n/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(to be) in a state of prostration”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a PROfessional STRATegy session that was so exhausting, it left you lying face down (in prostration) on the office floor.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTIONAL/PHYSICAL DEPLETION IS BEING FLAT ON THE GROUND. SUBMISSION/REVERENCE IS LOWERING ONESELF PHYSICALLY.
Practice
Quiz
In a medical context, 'prostration' most likely refers to: