sober

[soh-ber]

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

verb (used with or without object)

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

sober

/ 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

verb

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of sober¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of sober¹

C14 sobre, from Old French, from Latin sōbrius

Synonym Study

See grave ².

Example Sentences

The second season concluded with Zendaya's character Rue getting sober, but with several storylines unresolved.

Read more on BBC

Half the country viewed them as evidence of two-tiered justice—exactly why a humble and sober prosecutor would never have brought them.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Older adults who undergo professional treatment, involving close personal attention and medical supervision, are more likely to succeed at getting sober.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

India's wild elephant population estimates have dropped sharply by a quarter, a government survey incorporating a new DNA system has found, marking the most accurate but sobering count yet.

Read more on Barron's

“We need to learn how to live with fire — in a lot more sober way.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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