adjective
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sombre
SOM-buh
Sombre (adjective) means Dark, dim, or lacking in brightness. Example: “A sombre grey light filled the room before the storm broke.”
adjective
1
Dark, dim, or lacking in brightness.
"A sombre grey light filled the room before the storm broke."
2
Serious, gloomy, or without any cheerfulness.
"The mood at the funeral was understandably sombre."
"He gave a sombre account of the disaster's aftermath."
How to use sombre
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDark and gloomy, whether describing light, colours, or a serious mood.
UK vs US
This is the standard British spelling; American English typically uses "somber".
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a sombre mood
sombre colours
a sombre tone
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- sombres
- Past tense
- sombred
- Comparative
- sombrer
- Superlative
- sombrest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ grey light filled the room before the storm broke.
Etymology
From French sombre, "dark", possibly from Latin sub- ("under") + umbra ("shade").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for sombre
See all rhymes for sombre →Frequently asked questions
What does “sombre” mean?
The word “sombre” means dark, dim, or lacking in brightness. In plain terms, dark and gloomy, whether describing light, colours, or a serious mood.
How do you pronounce “sombre”?
“Sombre” is pronounced SOM-buh (/ˈsɑmbɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “sombre” in a sentence?
Here is “sombre” used in a sentence: “A sombre grey light filled the room before the storm broke.”
What part of speech is “sombre”?
“Sombre” is an adjective.
Where does the word “sombre” come from?
The word “sombre” comes from Latin. From French sombre, "dark", possibly from Latin sub- ("under") + umbra ("shade").
How many meanings does “sombre” have?
“Sombre” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: dark, dim, or lacking in brightness.
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