somber

especially British, som·bre

[som-ber]

adjective

1. gloomily dark; shadowy; dimly lighted.

   a somber passageway.

   Synonyms: sunless, murky, dusky
   Antonyms: bright

2. dark and dull, as color, or as things in respect to color.

   a somber dress.

3. gloomy, depressing, or dismal.

   a somber mood.

   Synonyms: melancholy, doleful, mournful, lugubrious
   Antonyms: cheerful

4. extremely serious; grave.

   a somber expression on his face.

Other Word Forms

• somberly adverb
• somberness noun
• unsomber adjective
• unsomberly adverb
• unsomberness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of somber¹

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”)

Example Sentences

Though the mood was somber, it nevertheless felt more hopeful than most other protests Coheb-Taguri had attended in the last two years.

From Los Angeles Times

But the crown jewel was her funeral sandwiches — which, despite the somber name, made an appearance anytime there was a crowd to feed.

From Salon

His passing adds a somber backdrop to the violence, leaving congregations nationwide grieving and shaken.

From Salon

Through the somber perspective of time, he’s better able to appreciate those eccentric customs of his grandmother that he found weird when he was a first-generation American kid just trying to fit in.

From Los Angeles Times

Speaking at the podium with a somber tone, Harbaugh said he met with Harris at halftime and described the running back’s demeanor as “cold-blooded,” adding that he told him: “You’ll be back, kid.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bleak 
• dark 
• dull 
• earnest 
• funereal 
• gloomy 
• grim 
• melancholy 
• mournful 
• sedate 
• serious 
• sober 
• solemn 
• weighty