Glum
/ɡlʌm/
adjectiveB1
Definition
Glum describes a quiet sadness or disappointment. When someone is glum, they may look serious, unhappy, or thoughtful in a sad way. It is not a strong, loud sadness but a calm, low feeling of being upset or unhappy.
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⚡ See It in Action
Feeling quietly sad or disappointed
- •She felt glum after hearing the bad news.
- •The team was glum because they lost the game.
- •He looked glum when his friends left the party early.
Describing a sad or gloomy appearance or mood
- •The glum expression on her face showed she was upset.
- •The weather made everyone feel glum and tired.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "glum" like "sad," but more quiet and calm, not loud or crying
- ✓Picture a person sitting alone with a small frown, looking down or lost in thought
- ✓It's the feeling when a plan doesn't work out, and you just feel a little down inside
- ✓Sounds like "glum" → imagine a gloomy cloud covering the sun, making everything a bit darker
- ✓Think of a rainy day when the sky is gray and people feel a little sad but don’t cry
- ✓NOT like "happy" (feeling good and smiling), glum is the opposite: a quiet, low mood
- ✓NOT like "angry" (strong and loud feeling), glum is soft and calm sadness
- ✓NOT like "crying" (showing sadness with tears), glum is more about feeling sad inside without tears
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Down: feeling unhappy or low in mood (Use when the feeling is less serious or temporary)
- •Blue: feeling sad or unhappy (Use in informal, emotional contexts)
- •Gloomy: very dark or sad mood (Use when describing a stronger or darker sadness)
- •Miserable: feeling very unhappy or uncomfortable (Use for stronger, more intense sadness)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix, root word "glum")
- •Etymology: Origin uncertain; possibly from Scottish or Northern English dialect meaning "sullen" or "morose" (quietly unhappy)
- •Historical development: Used since the 1600s to describe a sad or gloomy mood or face
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe quiet sadness or disappointment in everyday speech and writing
💭 Reflect & Connect
•When have you felt glum instead of openly sad or angry? How did you show it?
•Can being glum sometimes help you think more clearly about a problem? Why or why not?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.After the team lost the match, the players felt glum because they ___ their chance to win.
2.She looked glum all day, but she didn’t ___ why she was upset.
3.Unlike angry people who shout, glum people usually stay ___ and quiet.
4.When the weather is cold and rainy, it often makes people feel glum and ___.
5.He tried to smile, but his glum expression showed he was still ___.
6.People who are glum often avoid talking about their feelings and just ___ alone.
7.The children were glum after their favorite toy broke, showing their ___ inside.