sombre — ozdic

Collocations

6

1

(adj.)

VERBS

be, look, seem

The sky seemed sombre and grey as rain began to fall.

become, grow

The atmosphere in the room became sombre after they heard the bad news.

remain

Despite the good news, her expression remained sombre throughout the meeting.

ADV

very

fairly, rather, somewhat

The office atmosphere was rather sombre after the company announced the layoffs.

suitably

The old church was decorated in suitably sombre colours for the memorial service.

Definitions

adj

1

Dark; gloomy; shadowy, dimly lit.

The lady led him into a sombre hallway and disappeared. A moment later the windowless chamber was illuminated by the entry of a heavenly creature emitting a radiance prone to pierce the heart of any youth exposed to it.

All three parallel valleys of the Llynvi, Garw and Ogmore are much the same in physical character: the lower reaches are wooded and not unattractive, but as the railway climbs on ever-steepening grades, the hills on either hand grow barer and closer together, while in all respects the scene becomes more sombre, with the terraced, slate-roofed colliery towns and the road, railway and river all struggling for space in the narrowing defiles.

2

Dull or dark in colour or brightness.

His tall and slender figure, dressed in sombre black, his hair of that peculiar reddish auburn so rarely seen, his flashing black eyes, in which a fitful fire seemed for ever burning; all combined to give something almost of a demoniac air ...

3

Melancholic, gloomy, dreary, dismal; grim.

The dinner was silent and sombre; happily it was also short.

It was a wonder that he had not been a victim of the ferocious and summary executions which marked the course of that tyranny; for Guzman had ruled the country with the sombre imbecility of political fanaticism.

4

Grave; extremely serious.

a sombre situation

noun

1

Gloom; obscurity; duskiness.

verb

1

To make sombre or dark; to make shady.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

adjective — grave or even gloomy in character

somber
melancholy

adjective — lacking brightness or color

drab
sober
somber

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

Example Bank

6

01

The lady led him into a sombre hallway and disappeared. A moment later the windowless chamber was illuminated by the entry of a heavenly creature emitting a radiance prone to pierce the heart of any y

Wiktionary

02

All three parallel valleys of the Llynvi, Garw and Ogmore are much the same in physical character: the lower reaches are wooded and not unattractive, but as the railway climbs on ever-steepening grade

Wiktionary

03

His tall and slender figure, dressed in sombre black, his hair of that peculiar reddish auburn so rarely seen, his flashing black eyes, in which a fitful fire seemed for ever burning; all combined to

Wiktionary

04

With tingling nerves, but a fixed purpose, I sat in the dark recess of the hut and waited with sombre patience for the coming of its tenant.

Tatoeba · #6620632

05

The light was more and more sombre, but there came a flash of lightning which made them start and look at each other, and then smile.

Tatoeba · #6888704

06

Is black too sombre to wear in spring?

Tatoeba · #12098345

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, sombre is marked as obsolete, UK. Watch for register when choosing this word.