solemn
Americanadjective
-
grave, sober, or mirthless, as a person, the face, speech, tone, or mood.
solemn remarks.
- Antonyms:
- humorous
-
gravely or somberly impressive; causing serious thoughts or a grave mood.
solemn music.
- Antonyms:
- trivial
-
serious or earnest.
solemn assurances.
-
characterized by dignified or serious formality, as proceedings; of a formal or ceremonious character.
a solemn occasion.
- Synonyms:
- ceremonial, ritual
-
made in due legal or other express form, as a declaration or agreement.
a solemn oath.
-
marked or observed with religious rites; having a religious character.
a solemn holy day.
- Synonyms:
- sacred, devotional
-
uttered, prescribed, or made according to religious forms.
a solemn ban on sacrifice.
adjective
-
characterized or marked by seriousness or sincerity
a solemn vow
-
characterized by pomp, ceremony, or formality
-
serious, glum, or pompous
-
inspiring awe
a solemn occasion
-
performed with religious ceremony
-
gloomy or sombre
solemn colours
Related Words
See grave 2.
Other Word Forms
- oversolemn adjective
- oversolemnness noun
- semisolemn adjective
- semisolemnness noun
- solemnly adverb
- solemnness noun
- supersolemn adjective
- supersolemnness noun
- unsolemn adjective
- unsolemnness noun
Etymology
Origin of solemn
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English solem(p)ne, from Old French or directly from Late Latin sōlennis, sōlempnis, Latin sōlemnis, variant of sollemnis “consecrated, holy,” derivative of sollus “whole”
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.
And in the Dutch Reformed Church, a minister’s first sermon in his first church was the most solemn, joyous, emotional occasion that an unemotional people could conceive.
From Literature
In one sequence, a solemn Gregorian chant pivots to a tango as Grace and Rocky’s ships connect airlock-to-airlock in spinning orbit.
From Los Angeles Times
Not all of the work here is so solemn.
After almost 30 years in the Senate, his every invariably solemn utterance is beyond well known to me.
The latest example came Saturday at one of the most solemn moments a commander-in-chief can face: a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base.
From Salon
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.
