adjective

somber

SOM-bur

Somber (adjective) means Serious, gloomy and without cheerfulness, in a way that suits grief or bad news. Example: “The mood in the room turned somber once the results came through.”

adjective

Serious, gloomy and without cheerfulness, in a way that suits grief or bad news.

"The mood in the room turned somber once the results came through."

"He gave a somber account of what he had seen."

Dark, dull or muted in colour or light.

"Somber grey suits filled the church."

"Somber clouds sat over the harbour all afternoon."

How to use somber

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSad and serious, or dark and dull.

When to use it

Slightly literary but common in journalism.

Easily confused with

sombre → solemn → sombrero →

Common pairings

somber mood somber tone somber colours strike a somber note

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The mood in the room turned _____ once the results came through.

Etymology

From French 'sombre', meaning dark or gloomy, ultimately from Latin 'sub umbra', 'under shade'.

Origin: French

Synonyms

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grave solemn sober melancholy downcast muted drab shadowy

Antonyms

cheerful lighthearted buoyant bright vivid

Related words

light happy serious dark glad sad smart quiet

Rhymes for somber

bomber Unabomber

See all rhymes for somber →

Frequently asked questions

Is it somber or sombre?

Both spellings are standard for the same word: 'somber' in American English and 'sombre' in British and most Commonwealth English. The pronunciation is identical.

What is the difference between somber and solemn?

Solemn describes weight and formality, and can be entirely positive, as at a wedding or a ceremony. Somber adds gloom: a somber occasion is not just serious but sad or heavy.

What is the meaning of somber?

"somber" (adjective) means serious, gloomy and without cheerfulness, in a way that suits grief or bad news.

What is another word for somber?

Other words for "somber" include grave, solemn, sober, melancholy, downcast, muted.

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