a state of inactivity or stagnation, as in business or art: August is a time of doldrums for many enterprises. the doldrums, a belt of calms and light baffling winds north of the equator between the northern and southern trade winds in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

What does the name doldrum mean?

a : a spell of listlessness or despondency : blues. b : a state of bafflement : quandary. 2 archaic : a sluggish or slow-witted person. 3 doldrums plural. a : a region over the ocean near the equator abounding in calms, squalls, and light baffling winds.

What does the word doldrums mean in a sentence?

Depressed; dull and listless. For example, Dean's in the doldrums for most of every winter. This expression alludes to the maritime doldrums, a belt of calms and light winds north of the equator in which sailing ships were often becalmed.