Gloomy
/ˈɡluːmi/
adjectiveB1
Definition
Gloomy means something is dark or not bright, often making people feel sad or worried. It can describe weather, rooms, or moods when things seem unhappy or not cheerful. For example, a cloudy day or a sad face can be called gloomy.
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See It in Action
Dark or without much light, often making a place look sad or dull
- •The room was gloomy because the curtains were closed.
- •It was a gloomy afternoon with thick gray clouds.
- •The forest looked gloomy in the evening light.
Feeling sad, depressed, or worried
- •She felt gloomy after hearing the bad news.
- •His gloomy expression showed he was upset.
- •The movie had a gloomy ending that made everyone quiet.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "gloomy" like "dark," but with a feeling of sadness or worry added
- ✓Picture a cloudy sky with no sun, making everything look gray and quiet
- ✓It's the feeling when you are alone on a rainy day and feel a little sad or thoughtful
- ✓Sounds like "GLOO-mee" → imagine sticky glue making things heavy and slow, like sad feelings that stick around
- ✓Think of a story where a character walks through a dark forest feeling scared or lonely
- ✓NOT like "dark" which only means no light; "gloomy" also includes sadness or a bad mood
- ✓NOT like "happy" or "bright," which mean cheerful and full of light
- ✓NOT like "scary," because gloomy is more about sadness than fear
Try Other Words
- •Dark: without light (Use when focusing on lack of light, not mood)
- •Depressing: making you feel very sad (Use when the mood is very low or serious)
- •Cloudy: covered with clouds (Use when talking about weather with no sun)
- •Sad: feeling unhappy (Use when focusing only on emotions)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: root "gloom" + suffix "-y" (makes adjective meaning "full of gloom")
- •Etymology: From Old English "glōm," meaning twilight or darkness
- •Historical development: Originally meant dim or dark light, later added meaning of sadness or low mood
- •Modern usage: Used to describe both physical darkness and emotional sadness, often together
- •Interesting fact: "Gloom" alone means darkness or sadness, and "gloomy" describes something full of that feeling
Reflect & Connect
•How can a place look gloomy but not make someone feel sad? Can a place be gloomy in a good way?
•Have you ever felt gloomy on a bright day? What made your feelings different from the weather?
Fill in the blanks
1.The gloomy sky made the park look ___ and quiet, with no ___ from the sun.
2.After the bad news, she felt gloomy and her face showed ___ and ___.
3.Unlike a bright and cheerful room, a gloomy room usually has ___ light and a ___ mood.
4.When people say the weather is gloomy, they mean it is ___ or ___, not sunny and warm.
5.He tried to smile, but his gloomy expression showed he was still ___ inside.
6.The movie’s ending was gloomy, so the audience left feeling ___ and ___.
7.On gloomy days, people often feel ___ and prefer to stay ___ inside.