adj
C1
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glum
gluhm
Glum (adj) means Sad, sullen, or in low spirits. Example: “He looked glum after hearing the bad news.”
adj
1
Sad, sullen, or in low spirits.
"He looked glum after hearing the bad news."
"The team sat in glum silence after losing the final."
How to use glum
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDown in the dumps — visibly unhappy or moody.
Common mistake
Similar to "gloomy" but "glum" describes a person's sullen mood, while "gloomy" more often describes an atmosphere, weather, or outlook.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a glum face
glum expression
feeling glum
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- glums
- Past tense
- glummed
- Comparative
- glummer
- Superlative
- glummest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He looked _____ after hearing the bad news.
Etymology
Probably from a Low German word related to "gloomy," describing a dark, sullen mood.
Related words
Rhymes for glum
See all rhymes for glum →Frequently asked questions
What does “glum” mean?
The word “glum” means sad, sullen, or in low spirits. In plain terms, down in the dumps — visibly unhappy or moody.
How do you pronounce “glum”?
“Glum” is pronounced gluhm (/ɡlʌm/ in IPA).
How do you use “glum” in a sentence?
Here is “glum” used in a sentence: “He looked glum after hearing the bad news.”
What part of speech is “glum”?
“Glum” is an adjective.
Where does the word “glum” come from?
The word “glum” comes from German. Probably from a Low German word related to "gloomy," describing a dark, sullen mood.
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