somber

1 of 2

adjective

som·​ber ˈsäm-bər 

variants or sombre

1

: so shaded as to be dark and gloomy

2

a

: of a serious mien : grave

somber dignitaries

b

: of a dismal or depressing character : melancholy

c

: conveying gloomy suggestions or ideas

3

: of a dull or heavy cast or shade : dark colored

somberly adverb

somberness noun

somberness

2 of 2

noun

som·​ber·​ness

variants or sombreness

plural -es

: the quality or state of being somber

Synonyms of somber

Adjective

• darkened
• dark
• murky

Examples of somber in a Sentence

Adjective

Looking out at his audience, a somber mass of monks, Gregory gave Mary a new identity that would shape her image for fourteen hundred years. —Jonathan Darman, Newsweek, 29 May 2006

This year marks a somber anniversary—it was 150 years ago that humans wiped out the last survivors of this species. A relative of the razorbills and puffins, and about the size of a small goose, the great auk was black-bodied with a white underbelly, and walked erect, like a penguin. —Bill Montevecchi, Natural History, August 1994

The purple darkness was filled with men who lectured and jabbered. Sometimes he could see them gesticulating against the blue and somber sky. —Stephen Crane, The Red Badge of Courage, 1895

Her death put us in a somber mood.

The movie is a somber portrait of life on the streets.

He wore a somber suit.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The trailer opens on the somber, grayscale world of London before entering the wild, psychedelic, and magical world of Narnia. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2026

The more somber Busk by Aszure Barton closed a three-hour program that received rapturous applause. — Tina Isaac-Goizé, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2026

Jerusalem — Three years to the minute after the start of the deadliest single day in Israel’s history, the country marked the somber occasion with a series of ceremonies, memorials and protests at more than 400 locations. — Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026

On the one hand, Ravana’s defeat is celebrated with jubilation; on the other, the goddess Durga’s departure is marked by a somber farewell. — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

French sombre

First Known Use

Adjective

1760, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

somber

adjective

som·​ber

variants or sombre

ˈsäm-bər 

1

: so shaded as to be dark and gloomy

2

: melancholy entry 2 sense 1, grave

a somber mood

3

: dull or dark colored

somberly adverb

somberness noun