gloom

1 of 2

verb

ˈglüm 

gloomed; glooming; glooms

intransitive verb

1

: to look, feel, or act sullen or despondent

2

: to be or become overcast

3

: to loom up dimly

transitive verb

: to make dark, murky, or somber : make gloomy

gloom

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: partial or total darkness

b

: a dark or shadowy place

2

a

: lowness of spirits : dejection

b

: an atmosphere of despondency

a gloom fell over the household

Synonyms

Verb

• frown
• glare
• glower
• lower
• lour
• scowl

Noun

• blue devils
• blues
• dejection
• depression
• desolation
• despond
• despondence
• despondency
• disconsolateness
• dispiritedness
• doldrums
• dolefulness
• downheartedness
• dreariness
• dumps
• forlornness
• gloominess
• glumness
• heartsickness
• joylessness
• melancholy
• miserableness
• mopes
• mournfulness
• oppression
• sadness
• sorrowfulness
• unhappiness

Examples of gloom in a Sentence

Verb

we just sat there, glooming, as we waited and waited for our dinners to arrive

he continued to gloom over the fact that he had been passed over for promotion to district manager

Noun

The painting captures the gloom of a foggy night.

He walked away, disappearing into the gloom.

the gloom of the forest

He was often subject to periods of gloom.

A cloud of gloom has descended over the city.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

But, there is still gloom ahead for economies in the region. —Emiko Jozuka, CNN, 5 Oct. 2022

Our imperviousness to gloom is our own peculiar virtue. —Murr Brewster, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Mar. 2022

Noun

Rather than a sense of doom and gloom, Chelsea left Newcastle on Sunday with high hopes that their target for the Premier League season can be achieved. —Simon Johnson, New York Times, 13 May 2025

This era of uncertainty doesn’t have to create a sentiment of doom and gloom. —Michael Della Penna, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English gloumen

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1629, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing gloom

• gloom and doom

Rhymes for gloom

• blume
• boom
• broom
• doom
• flume
• fume
• glume
• groom
• loom
• plume
• rheum
• room

Kids Definition

gloom

1 of 2 verb

ˈglüm 

1

: to look sullen, discouraged, or depressed

2

: to be or become overcast

gloom

2 of 2 noun

1

: partial or total darkness

2

: a sad mood

gloomily

ˈglü-mə-lē

adverb

gloominess

-mē-nəs

noun

gloomy

-mē

adjective