noun
Common
vampire
VAM-peye-uh
Vampire (noun) means a legendary undead creature said to survive by drinking the blood of the living. Example: “In the old story, a vampire cannot enter a house unless he is invited.”
noun
1
A legendary undead creature said to survive by drinking the blood of the living.
"In the old story, a vampire cannot enter a house unless he is invited."
"The children dressed up as a vampire and a ghost for the party."
"The film follows a vampire who has lived in the same city for three hundred years."
"Bram Stoker's novel Dracula built on centuries-old stories of vampires and also encouraged new growth of the mythology."
2
A person who drains someone else's time, energy, or resources.
"You have to be careful what you tell her, because she's such a vampire for drama."
"Don't let that group chat become a vampire that eats up your evenings."
"My old boss was a vampire who drained everyone's patience by lunchtime."
"That client is a total energy vampire — every call leaves me exhausted."
How to use vampire
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA blood-drinking undead being from folklore, or (informally) someone who exhausts you.
Common pairings
vampire bat
energy vampire
vampire novel
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Word forms
- Plural
- vampires
- Third person singular
- vampires
- Past tense
- vampired
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In the old story, a _____ cannot enter a house unless he is invited.
Etymology
From French vampire, via German and Hungarian from a Slavic word, ultimately of uncertain origin.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for vampire
See all rhymes for vampire →Frequently asked questions
What does “vampire” mean?
The word “vampire” means a legendary undead creature said to survive by drinking the blood of the living. In plain terms, a blood-drinking undead being from folklore, or (informally) someone who exhausts you.
How do you pronounce “vampire”?
“Vampire” is pronounced VAM-peye-uh (/ˈvæm.paɪ.ə(ɹ)/ in IPA).
How do you use “vampire” in a sentence?
Here is “vampire” used in a sentence: “The film follows a vampire who has lived in the same city for three hundred years.”
What part of speech is “vampire”?
“Vampire” is a noun.
Where does the word “vampire” come from?
The word “vampire” comes from French. From French vampire, via German and Hungarian from a Slavic word, ultimately of uncertain origin.
Is “vampire” a common word?
“Vampire” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “vampire” have?
“Vampire” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a legendary undead creature said to survive by drinking the blood of the living.
What is the difference between a vampire and a zombie?
Both are undead creatures of legend, but a vampire is said to survive by drinking the blood of the living and is usually portrayed as intelligent and deliberate. A zombie is typically depicted as a mindless reanimated corpse, driven by instinct rather than planning.
Is Dracula the same thing as a vampire?
Dracula is one specific fictional vampire, the title character of Bram Stoker's novel, while vampire is the general term for the legendary blood-drinking undead creature. Every version of Dracula is a vampire, but most vampires in folklore and fiction are not Dracula.
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