What does somber mean?
Somber means dark, gloomy, or solemn, and it can describe both physical appearance and emotional atmosphere. A somber room may be poorly lit or dominated by dark colors, while a somber person, tone, or occasion is serious and often marked by sadness or gravity. The word commonly suggests heaviness and reflection rather than casual cheerfulness or humor. It is especially useful when describing subdued colors, oppressive weather, mournful events, and the mood of a scene or piece of writing. In American English, somber is the standard spelling, while British English generally uses sombre. The related forms somberly and somberness are less common but are also standard.
adjectiveDark, gloomy, or lacking brightness, especially in a mood, atmosphere, or color. It can also describe something solemn and marked by sadness or seriousness.
- Dark, gloomy, or lacking brightness, especially in atmosphere, color, or lighting.
- Sad, serious, or solemn in mood or manner.
- Solemn or marked by gravity, as in an occasion or expression.
"The somber atmosphere of the empty hall made everyone fall silent."
"A somber gray sky hung over the town."
"Her somber expression suggested that she had received bad news."
From the idea of a shadow, somber describes the way a shadow can make both a room and a mood feel darker.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does somber come from?
Somber entered English in the late 16th century from the French sombre, meaning dark or shadowy. French sombre developed from Latin umbra, meaning shadow, a word that also gave English such relatives as umbrage, umbrella, and umbriferous. English later extended the word's range from physical darkness to solemn or melancholy mood.
Related word forms
How somber is actually used
The word is formal and often conveys a serious, mournful, or reflective mood. It is more common in writing and formal speech than in everyday conversation. In American English, the spelling is usually somber; British English generally uses sombre.
Easily confused with somber
Sombre is the standard spelling in British English, while somber is the usual spelling in American English; both have the same meaning.
Somberly is the adverb derived from somber, meaning in a somber or gloomy manner.