zombie
zombie — noun
1. Within the horror genre, a corpse that rises and walks after dying, sometimes th
Within the horror genre, a corpse that rises and walks after dying, sometimes through magical forces or an infection. These creatures lack the ability to think clearly and frequently attack people who are still alive.
The zombie slowly walked down the empty street with its arms stretched forward.
Daichi watched a zombie film where the creatures came out of their graves at midnight.
zombie film — compound noun for horror genre
Adaeze screamed when the zombie pushed through the wooden door of the cabin.
In some video games, hitting a zombie on the head stops it.
A group of survivors hid inside a supermarket while zombies searched the street outside.
- the walking dead
A more dramatic, literary way to refer to zombies as a group; often used in titles
- undead
An adjective or collective noun for any creature that is dead but active, including zombies and skeletons
- ghoul
A creature similar to a zombie that robs graves or eats dead bodies; more common in Middle Eastern folklore
文法句型
zombie + noun (zombie movie / zombie attack)
like a zombie (comparative)
用法筆記
This is by far the most common meaning of zombie, used in films, television series, video games, and Halloween events. The word is frequently used as a modifier in compound nouns such as zombie apocalypse, zombie outbreak, and zombie thriller.
常見錯誤
2. In certain Caribbean religious traditions, particularly Haitian Vodou, followers
In certain Caribbean religious traditions, particularly Haitian Vodou, followers believe a sorcerer can use magic to bring a corpse back to life and control its actions.
Élise read a book about the belief in zombies in Haitian folk tradition.
belief in zombies — noun phrase
In some Caribbean stories, a zombie has no memory of its past life.
Wren studied how the zombie legend travelled from West Africa to the Caribbean islands.
Anthropologists found stories of people said to have been turned into zombies by a sorcerer.
- reanimated corpse
A neutral, scientific-sounding term that avoids cultural or fictional associations
- revenant
A dead person who returns from the dead, especially in ghost folklore; less specific than zombie
文法句型
a zombie in + culture/tradition
belief in zombies
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this meaning refers to an actual religious or folk belief, not a fictional horror creature. The word entered English through travel and anthropology books about Haiti in the late 1800s, before it became associated with horror stories.
常見錯誤
3. A person who is extremely exhausted, moves and acts without thought, and seems b
A person who is extremely exhausted, moves and acts without thought, and seems barely aware of their surroundings.
After the long flight from Tokyo to New York, Jin felt like a complete zombie.
feel like a zombie — informal simile for exhaustion
Elena walked into the kitchen like a zombie and poured herself a glass of water.
The night-shift nurse moved like a zombie after twelve straight hours of work.
Christopher stared at the computer screen like a zombie, too tired to type.
Children who sleep too little often act like zombies in class the next day.
- automaton
A person who acts in a mechanical, unthinking way; more formal than zombie
- sleepwalker
Someone who appears to be acting without full awareness; similar to zombie but suggests literal tiredness
- drone
A person who works or acts in a dull, repetitive way without thinking
- live wire
An energetic person who is full of life and enthusiasm; opposite of zombie in the informal sense
文法句型
feel like a zombie
look like a zombie
walk around like a zombie
用法筆記
Always used as a simile (like a zombie) or with a linking verb (feel/look like a zombie). It is informal and most common in spoken English. Do not use to describe a medical condition — it is a casual metaphor for tiredness or boredom.