somber
[ som-ber ]
/ ˈsɒm bər /
Save This Word!
adjective
gloomily dark; shadowy; dimly lighted: a somber passageway.
dark and dull, as color, or as things in respect to color: a somber dress.
gloomy, depressing, or dismal: a somber mood.
extremely serious; grave: a somber expression on his face.
SYNONYMS FOR somber
QUIZZES
THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?
Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.
Question 1 of 8
Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?
Also especially British, som·bre .
Origin of somber
1750–60; <French sombre,Middle French, probably noun derivative of *sombrer to make shady <Vulgar Latin *subumbrāre, equivalent to Latin sub-sub- + umbrāre to cast a shadow, derivative of umbra shade
OTHER WORDS FROM somber
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021