adjective C1 Advanced

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

Dark, dim, or lacking in brightness.

"A sombre grey light filled the room before the storm broke."

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 notes

In 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".

Common pairings

a sombre mood sombre colours a sombre tone

sombrer comparative, sombred past tense, sombres singular, sombrest superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

A _____ grey light filled the room before the storm broke.

From French sombre, "dark", possibly from Latin sub- ("under") + umbra ("shade").

Origin: Latin

hombre

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.

Vocabulary lists that include sombre: