adjective

supine

soo-PYNE

Supine (adjective) means lying flat on the back with the face turned upward. Example: “The patient was supine on the table with both arms at his sides.”

adjective

Lying flat on the back with the face turned upward.

"The patient was supine on the table with both arms at his sides."

"Begin the exercise in a supine position with your knees bent."

Failing to act or resist when action is called for; passively accepting whatever happens.

"Critics accused the committee of being supine in the face of obvious corruption."

"A supine press asks no difficult questions."

noun

technical In Latin grammar, a verbal noun formed from the past participle stem, used in a small number of fixed constructions.

"The dictionary lists the Latin verb's four principal parts, including the supine."

"Students learn the supine mainly to form the future participle."

How to use supine

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishLying on your back — or, of a person, too weak to stand up for anything.

When to use it

The physical sense is clinical and neutral; the figurative sense is formal and disparaging.

Memory tip

Stress falls on the second syllable for the adjective: soo-PYNE.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

prone → supple →

Common pairings

supine position lie supine supine acceptance supine and prone

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Test yourself on “supine” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The patient was _____ on the table with both arms at his sides.

Etymology

From Latin supinus, 'lying on the back, bent backwards', related to sub 'under'.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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passive spineless acquiescent inert unresisting

Antonyms

prone assertive defiant

Related words

dead slow patient passion pushing aggressive lazy dominant

Rhymes for supine

nine mine wine line sine dine fine vine pine tine thine shine

See all rhymes for supine →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between supine and prone?

Supine means face up, lying on your back; prone means face down, lying on your front. A quick memory aid is that you hold soup in a bowl on your front, so supine is the position where you could balance it.

Can supine describe a person's character?

Yes. Calling someone supine says they are feebly passive and put up no resistance. It is a strong criticism and is normally reserved for writing about politics, institutions or the press.

What is the meaning of supine?

"supine" (adjective) means lying flat on the back with the face turned upward.

What is another word for supine?

Other words for "supine" include passive, spineless, acquiescent, inert, unresisting.

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dead slow patient passion pushing aggressive lazy dominant