adjective
sombre
SOM-buh
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".
Common pairings
a sombre mood
sombre colours
a sombre tone
Word Forms
sombrer comparative, sombred past tense, sombres singular, sombrest superlative
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Etymology
From French sombre, "dark", possibly from Latin sub- ("under") + umbra ("shade").