sombre
Britishadjective
-
dismal; melancholy
a sombre mood
-
dim, gloomy, or shadowy
-
(of colour, clothes, etc) sober, dull, or dark
Other Word Forms
- sombrely adverb
- sombreness noun
- sombrous adjective
Etymology
Origin of sombre
C18: from French, from Vulgar Latin subumbrāre (unattested) to shade, from Latin sub beneath + umbra shade
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.
While a sombre mood lingers, children's surf club activities – known locally as "nippers" – resumed on Sunday as a sign of the community showing resilience.
From BBC
"The training ground has been a sombre place," Howe said.
From BBC
The mood at the Adelaide Oval - one of the most beautiful grounds in world cricket – was initially sombre as the victims of Bondi were mourned.
From BBC
While Vaughan expects it to be a "sombre scene", he also described Australia as an "amazing country" which will "bounce back".
From BBC
The gates were to later take a sombre centre stage in world history after being "covered in flowers when Princess Diana died".
From BBC
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.
