o ‧ bliv ‧ i ‧ on /əˈblɪviən/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: Latin oblivio , from oblivisci 'to forget' ]
1 . when something is completely forgotten or no longer important
sink/slip/pass etc into oblivion
Wind power presents too many advantages to be allowed to sink into oblivion.
The loser’s name has been consigned to oblivion (=completely forgotten) .
2 . the state of being unconscious or of not noticing what is happening:
the oblivion of sleep
He had drunk himself into oblivion.
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COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ fade into oblivion (=gradually become forgotten or no longer important)
Many political figures just fade into oblivion.
▪ sink/slip/slide into oblivion (=fade into oblivion)
It was once a popular game, but it has since sunk into oblivion.
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The old machines eventually slid into oblivion.
▪ consign something/somebody to oblivion formal (=make something or someone be completely forgotten, or to become unimportant)
The achievements of these years should not be consigned to oblivion.
▪ save somebody/something from oblivion
The charity has saved many fine old buildings from oblivion.
■ adjectives
▪ political oblivion (=used to say that something is forgotten in politics)
The party attracted little support and collapsed into political oblivion.
▪ instant oblivion (=used to say that something or someone is forgotten immediately)
His first album led to instant oblivion.
■ phrases
▪ be on the road to oblivion (=to be becoming forgotten or unimportant over a fairly long period of time)
Is this ancient tradition on the road to oblivion?