adj
sober
SOH-buh
adj
1
Not drunk or affected by alcohol or drugs.
"He stayed sober all night so he could drive everyone home."
"She has been sober for three years now."
2
Serious, calm, and level-headed; not overly emotional or reckless.
"The committee took a sober look at the risks before deciding."
3
Plain or subdued in color or style.
"He wore a sober grey suit to the interview."
verb
1
To become or make clear-headed again, especially after drinking.
"A strong coffee and a walk helped him sober up."
How to Use Sober
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot drunk, and by extension, calm and sensible rather than reckless or emotional.
Common pairings
stay sober
sober up
a sober assessment
Word Forms
soberer comparative, sobered past tense, Sobers plural, sobers singular, soberest superlative
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Etymology
From Old French sobre, from Latin sobrius, built from se- ("without") + ebrius ("drunk") — literally "without drunkenness."