somber
Americanadjective
-
gloomily dark; shadowy; dimly lighted.
a somber passageway.
- Antonyms:
- bright
-
dark and dull, as color, or as things in respect to color.
a somber dress.
-
gloomy, depressing, or dismal.
a somber mood.
- Synonyms:
- melancholy, doleful, mournful, lugubrious
- Antonyms:
- cheerful
-
extremely serious; grave.
a somber expression on his face.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of somber
First recorded in 1750–60; from French, Middle French sombre, probably noun derivative of sombrer (unrecorded) “to make shady,” from Vulgar Latin subumbrāre (unrecorded), from Latin sub- sub- + umbrāre “to cast a shadow” (derivative of umbra “shade, shadow”)
Explanation
Somber is used to describe situations, facial expressions, or moods that are dark, gloomy, or depressing. Funerals are usually somber affairs. Somber is a slightly formal word. If you have bad or super important news, deliver it in a somber manner otherwise people won’t understand how serious you are. Bad news can put a person in a somber mood. The word somber is derived from the Latin sub umbrā, "under a shadow," and it can also describe dull colors, like brown, grey, or black.
Vocabulary lists containing somber
100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know
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List 1
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The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 3
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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.
Instead, in a sign of the times that seems impossibly quaint in the harsh light of 2026, she issued a somber mea culpa.
From Slate • May 6, 2026
Meanwhile, the night’s after parties continued, though organizers attempted a more somber tone.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2026
But on the other hand, the genre’s somber leanings afford him a tender space for sharing the brand of wisdom that only comes with age.
From Salon • Apr. 24, 2026
Activists held a gathering of US lawmakers on Thursday at the somber display located a stone's throw from the Capitol, with a simple plea: "Bring Them Home."
From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026
This is the conception of life which underlies the Norse religion, as somber a conception as the mind of man has ever given birth to.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
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.
