- a variation of somber.
sombre
Britishadjective
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dismal; melancholy
a sombre mood
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dim, gloomy, or shadowy
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(of colour, clothes, etc) sober, dull, or dark
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sombre
C18: from French, from Vulgar Latin subumbrāre (unattested) to shade, from Latin sub beneath + umbra shade
Explanation
When you're sombre — or somber — you're acting glum, depressed, or sad. Being sombre is the opposite of being perky or happy. This is a word that has to do with the mood of a person or event. A funeral is going to be sombre, and the people at the funeral are usually pretty sombre, too. It's a quiet, serious, and even gloomy kind of feeling. Objects can look sombre if they're dull and colorless. Just don't get sombre and confused by the spelling: the "re" ending is a British thing, while Americans usually end it with "er."
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.
Underneath her pragmatism and sombre suits lie some surprises.
From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026
Allegra Tashjian, who grew up in Wisconsin, said her teacher explained in first or second grade that it was a very important, sombre day and asked if anyone knew why.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
The mood became more sombre as the Commonwealth Sport flag was raised after a procession involving members of the armed forces.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
Brendon McCullum was sombre in describing his "worry and concern" for Stokes, but Durham coach Ryan Campbell said the all-rounder is in "good spirits".
From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2026
Beyond it were slopes covered with sombre trees like dark clouds, but all about them lay a tumbled heathland, grown with ling and broom and cornel, and other shrubs that they did not know.
From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
