sober
adjective
not intoxicated or drunk.
were sobering
-
past progressiveof sober.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
One union said the numbers were "sobering" and fatigue built up in recent years continued to place a strain on staff.
From BBC ● Dec. 30, 2023
The defense secretary’s remarks were sobering, although there were lighter moments in his speech Saturday inside the Reagan Presidential Library’s vast Air Force One Pavilion.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 2, 2023
When students resumed taking them in 2022, the results were sobering.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 23, 2023
Those were sobering words coming after two years of wrestling with the pandemic, societal upheaval and rampant inflation.
From Reuters ● Mar. 2, 2022
Greens were sobering into browns, and near the water's edge were tips of silvery white.
From Virginia: the Old Dominion by Frank W. Hutchins
