gloom
Americannoun
-
total or partial darkness; dimness.
- Antonyms:
- brightness
-
a state of melancholy or depression; low spirits.
- Synonyms:
- sadness, despondency, dejection
- Antonyms:
- cheerful
-
a despondent or depressed look or expression.
verb (used without object)
-
to appear or become dark, dim, or somber.
-
to look sad, dismal, or dejected; frown.
verb (used with object)
-
to fill with gloom; make gloomy or sad; sadden.
-
to make dark or somber.
noun
-
partial or total darkness
-
a state of depression or melancholy
-
an appearance or expression of despondency or melancholy
-
poetic a dim or dark place
verb
-
(intr) to look sullen or depressed
-
to make or become dark or gloomy
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
gloomfullyadverb
-
gloomlessadjective
-
ungloomverb (used with object)
-
outgloomverb (used with object)
-
gloomfuladjective
-
undergloomnoun
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have gloomedperfect
-
has gloomedperfect 3rd person singular
-
have been gloomingperfect progressive
-
is gloomingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
am gloomingprogressive 1st person singular
-
gloomssingular 3rd person
-
has been gloomingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
gloomingparticiple
-
are gloomingprogressive
Past
-
had gloomedperfect
-
were gloomingprogressive plural
-
was gloomingprogressive singular
-
gloomedsimple
-
had been gloomingperfect progressive
-
gloomedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of gloom
1300–50; Middle English gloumben, glomen to frown, perhaps representing Old English *glūmian (akin to early German gläumen to make turbid); see glum
Explanation
Gloom is a hazy darkness or dimness. The gloom of a moonless autumn evening is perfect for trick-or-treating, but not so perfect for sizing up your candy stash. It might make you nervous to walk in the gloom of your friend's rural neighborhood at night if you're used to well-lit city streets. And while gloom perfectly describes the near-dark of dusk or a foggy evening, it can also describe a dark, dismal mood. Your brother's gloom when his favorite basketball team loses in the playoffs will only deepen if your favorite team wins the tournament. Gloom is a Scottish word, originally meaning "a sullen look."
Vocabulary lists containing gloom
"Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou
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Billie Holiday (1915–1959) Tribute List
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Our plates brimmed with color — yellow, green, red and orange — unlike the gloom outside.
From Salon • Jun. 7, 2026
As athletic director at USC, Cohen understands the reasons for their doom and gloom.
From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2026
Potentially adding to the gloom was a Friday report on Bloomberg, which, citing sources, said that SpaceX is targeting a valuation of $1.8 trillion, down from $2 trillion.
From MarketWatch • May 29, 2026
However, it may not be all doom and gloom for cybersecurity investors.
From Barron's • May 27, 2026
It took a few heartbeats—several pulse-pounding heartbeats—before my eyes adjusted to the gloom.
From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
