drab

[ drab ]

See synonyms for: drab drabs drabness on Thesaurus.com

adjective,drab·ber, drab·best.

dull; cheerless; lacking in spirit, brightness, etc.
having the color drab.

noun

dull gray; dull brownish or yellowish gray.
any of several fabrics of this color, especially of thick wool or cotton.

Origin of drab

1535–45; <Middle French drap<Late Latin drappus piece of cloth

Other words from drab

drably, adverb
drabness, noun

Other definitions for drab (2 of 2)

drab²

[ drab ]

nounArchaic.

a dirty, untidy woman; slattern.
a prostitute.

verb (used without object),drabbed, drab·bing.

to associate with drabs.

Origin of drab

First recorded in 1505–15; perhaps akin to Dutch drab “dregs, lees,” obsolete Dutch drablen “to run or tramp about”; cf. drabble, draff

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use drab in a sentence

Leeks and fresh dill take cozy split pea soup from drab to fabWhile fresh dill is essential to this recipe, the rest is open to interpretation.
Calling all dill lovers: This old-school ham salad sandwich is for you | Ann Maloney | January 26, 2021 | Washington Post
This no-frills set comes in a range of jovial colors that can lift even the drabbest patios, and is rust-resistant, ensuring it will last against the elements.
Small patio sets that maximize your outdoor space | PopSci Commerce Team | January 13, 2021 | Popular-Science
After what felt like an eon, I lifted my head to find that the once drab badlands were suddenly awash in color.
I Saw an Epic Sunset at Badlands National Park | Emily Pennington | November 3, 2020 | Outside Online
After the drabness of the 1950s, her clothes were chic and slightly transgressive, but not haute couture.
Barbara Hulanicki, Queen of Fast Fashion | Lizzie Crocker | October 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
I want to sit on its benches again in spite of their treacherous bleakness, in spite of the drabness.
My Wonderful Visit | Charlie Chaplin

The loneliness and drabness of working away from people are fatal to his best effort.
How to Analyze People on Sight | Elsie Lincoln Benedict and Ralph Paine Benedict
Only we, slaves of respectability and of an inordinate appetite for order, suffered such monotony and drabness to rule.
Painted Windows | Elia W. Peattie
Little ridges of tiny blue flames, to speed up the drying of the ink, made blobs of color in the drabness.
Joan of the Journal | Helen Diehl Olds
There were, it is true, a few redeeming features gilding the prevailing drabness of the scene.
The Gypsy's Parson | George Hall

British Dictionary definitions for drab (1 of 2)

drab¹

/ (dræb) /

adjectivedrabber or drabbest

dull; dingy; shabby
cheerless; dreary: a drab evening

of the colour drab

noun

a light olive-brown colour
a fabric of a dull grey or brown colour

Origin of drab

C16: from Old French drap cloth, from Late Latin drappus, perhaps of Celtic origin

Derived forms of drab

drably, adverb
drabness, noun

British Dictionary definitions for drab (2 of 2)

drab²

/ (dræb) archaic /

noun

a slatternly woman
a whore

verbdrabs, drabbing or drabbed

(intr) to consort with prostitutes

Origin of drab

C16: of Celtic origin; compare Scottish Gaelic drabag

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with drab

drab

see dribs and drabs.

Browse