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

A day after losing the cornerstone of their offensive line, the mood around the Chargers’ training facility remained the same — somber.

From Los Angeles Times

The season’s opening night at the Bowl was “a relatively somber occasion, which, despite the lovely atmosphere, fit the mood of the times,” as Times critic Mark Swed said.

From Los Angeles Times

The mood was somber at the funeral home.

From Los Angeles Times

“We ignored that cough, that speck in the X-ray,” Levin concluded, now somber.

From Los Angeles Times

It was, moreover, a Tuesday that proved a relatively somber occasion, which, despite the lovely atmosphere, fit the mood of the times.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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