lie dormant

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Unlike police drones dispatched after a 911 call, Mithril’s machines lie dormant in ceiling-mounted boxes, charging until a threat arrives.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

Hidden inside was a piece of malicious software that would lie dormant in the council's network until it was activated remotely.

From BBC • May 18, 2025

Across California and Arizona, there are stretches of desert that can quickly transform into dense fields of wildflowers, since seeds lie dormant in the soil and then germinate and blossom at around the same time.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 20, 2024

The seed bank has been recharged, she said, but that doesn’t mean those seeds will bloom in 2024; wildflower seeds can lie dormant for years before they germinate.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2024

The pupa hardens into a weather-resistant package that can lie dormant for weeks or months.

From "The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science" by Joyce Sidman