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.
And in conversation, he does tend toward the somber.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
By the second half, a somber Dart was watching from the sideline in street clothes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
It is a sentiment that is on full display in this book, which also reflects the somber mood of its wartime composition.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
After Carney’s somber press conference to explain the breakdown of U.S. talks and accuse Washington of moving the goal posts at the last minute, Merz reached out to the Canadian leader.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026
My heart rate finally elevated slightly above somber territory as we engaged in a heated debate over which came first, the chicken or the egg.
From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
