sober

American  

[soh-ber] / ˈsoʊ bər /

adjective

soberer, soberest

1. not intoxicated or drunk.

2. habitually temperate, especially in the use of liquor.

   Synonyms:

   abstemious, abstinent

3. quiet or sedate in demeanor, as persons.

4. marked by seriousness, gravity, solemnity, etc., as of demeanor, speech, etc..

   a sober occasion.

   Synonyms:

   staid, subdued, sedate, quiet, serious

   Antonyms:

   gay

5. subdued in tone, as color; not colorful or showy, as clothes.

   Synonyms:

   dull, somber

6. free from excess, extravagance, or exaggeration.

   sober facts.

7. showing self-control.

   sober restraint.

   Synonyms:

   collected, composed

8. sane or rational.

   a sober solution to the problem.

   Synonyms:

   sound, reasonable

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verb (used with or without object)

1. to make or become sober: (often followed byup ).

sober British  

/ ˈsəʊbə /

adjective

1. not drunk

2. not given to excessive indulgence in drink or any other activity

3. sedate and rational

   a sober attitude to a problem

4. (of colours) plain and dull or subdued

5. free from exaggeration or speculation

   he told us the sober truth

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verb

1. (usually foll by up) to make or become less intoxicated, reckless, etc

Related Words

See grave ².

Other Word Forms

• nonsober adjective
• nonsoberly adverb
• nonsoberness noun
• quasi-sober adjective
• quasi-soberly adverb
• sobering adjective
• soberingly adverb
• soberly adverb
• soberness noun
• unsober adjective
• unsobered adjective
• unsoberly adverb
• unsoberness noun

Etymology

Origin of sober

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English sobre, from Old French, from Latin sōbrius

Explanation

This adjective means the opposite of playful or drunk. When attending a funeral, you are expected to be sober in both senses. The most common meaning of sober is "not drunk" — people who drive need to be sober. Sober sounds a lot like somber, and it often means sad and quiet too, or sometimes too serious. Another meaning is to be logical or realistic about something. Sometimes sober means drab: a grey station wagon is a more sober vehicle than a hot red convertible. All of these meanings are quiet and restrained — unlike a person who has had a lot to drink.

Example Sentences

He had been healthy, was nine years sober, and the family hadn’t been able to afford health insurance.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

But some limits, especially of what’s acceptable, exist for good, sober reasons.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

Ms. Minnelli, now sober for 11 years, has few regrets and many adoring friends.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

How does this balance out in terms of how to approach the court in a clear-eyed and sober way but also a way that doesn’t suggest “This is utterly useless, burn it all down”?

From Slate • Mar. 4, 2026

And, as far as is known, they both stayed sober.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

Related Words

• dark
• disciplined
• dispassionate
• down-to-earth
• earnest
• levelheaded
• low-key
• lucid
• no-nonsense
• practical
• quiet
• rational
• realistic
• reasonable
• restrained
• sedate
• serene
• serious
• solemn
• somber