Sombre
/ˈsɑːmbər/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Sombre describes something that looks or feels dark in color or mood. It can mean serious, sad, or quiet in a way that is thoughtful or a little gloomy. For example, a room with dark colors or a sad event can be described as sombre.
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See It in Action
Dark or dull in color or light
- •The room was painted in sombre shades of gray and brown.
- •The sky looked sombre before the storm started.
- •He wore a sombre suit to the ceremony.
Serious, sad, or quiet in mood or feeling
- •The mood at the meeting was sombre after the bad news.
- •She had a sombre expression on her face.
- •The film has a sombre tone that makes you think deeply.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "sombre" like "dark," but not only about color—it can be about feelings or atmosphere too
- ✓Picture a cloudy sky without sunlight, or a quiet room with dim lights where people speak softly
- ✓It's the feeling you get at a serious or sad moment, like at a funeral or when someone is thinking deeply
- ✓Sounds like "SOM-ber" → imagine someone saying "some bear" slowly in a low, quiet voice, like a heavy, slow mood
- ✓Think of a black-and-white movie scene where everything looks calm but serious and a bit sad
- ✓NOT like "bright" or "happy," which are light and cheerful; sombre is more quiet and heavy
- ✓NOT like "angry," which is loud and strong; sombre is calm but serious or sad
- ✓NOT like "colorful," sombre colors are dark, not bright or shining
Try Other Words
- •Gloomy: dark or sad (Use when the mood is more about sadness and less about seriousness)
- •Dark: low light or color (Use when talking only about colors or light, not feelings)
- •Grave: very serious and important (Use for very serious or formal situations)
- •Melancholy: sad and thoughtful (Use when sadness is deep and quiet)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix; "sombre" comes as a whole word)
- •Etymology: From French "sombre," meaning dark or gloomy
- •Historical development: Entered English in the late 16th century, originally used to describe dark colors and later moods
- •Modern usage: Used to describe serious, sad, or dark feelings, colors, and atmospheres in writing and speech
Reflect & Connect
•How can the word sombre help you describe feelings or places better than just saying "sad" or "dark"?
•Can something be sombre without being sad? How would you explain that?
Fill in the blanks
1.The room felt sombre because of the ___ colors and quiet voices.
2.After hearing the bad news, everyone had a sombre ___ on their faces.
3.A sombre mood is different from a happy one because it is more ___ and quiet.
4.The sky looked sombre just before the ___ began.
5.People wore sombre clothes to show respect during the ___.
6.A sombre expression usually means someone is feeling ___ or serious.
7.The film’s sombre tone made the audience feel ___ and thoughtful.