SOMBER


Meaning of SOMBER in English

som ‧ bre BrE AmE British English , somber American English /ˈsɒmbə $ ˈsɑːmbər/ adjective

[ Date: 1700-1800 ; Language: French ; Origin: sombre , probably from Latin sub 'under' + umbra 'shade, shadow' ]

1 . sad and serious SYN grave :

They sat in sombre silence.

We were all in a somber mood that night.

a sombre expression

on the sombre occasion of his mother’s funeral

2 . dark and without any bright colours:

a sombre grey suit

—sombrely adverb

—sombreness noun [uncountable]

• • •

THESAURUS

■ not joking

▪ serious not joking or laughing, or not pretending:

His voice sounded serious.

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They seem to be serious about their relationship.

▪ solemn very serious because of an important or sad occasion or ceremony:

My father looked solemn, the way grown-ups look at funerals.

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The judge read the verdict in a solemn voice.

▪ grave written quiet and very serious – used especially about the way people look when something important or worrying happens:

She consulted Doctor Staples and returned looking grave.

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He listened with a grave expression on his face.

▪ sombre British English ( also somber American English ) /ˈsɒmbə $ ˈsɑːmbər/ written sad, quiet, or serious because something unpleasant or worrying has happened or is going to happen:

They sat in sombre silence.

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The meeting began in a sombre mood.

▪ earnest very serious and sincere – often used about someone who is young and not very experienced:

He was a rather earnest-looking young man.

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‘That’s wrong,’ she said, her voice sounding very earnest.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.      Longman - Словарь современного английского языка.