sombre
gb/sˈɑmbɚ/ us/sˈɑmbɚ/
B2
English
~ 7100
sötét, komor
B2
1
Usage pattern:
a sombre [room/place/colour/setting]
The hallway was long and sombre, lit only by a single weak bulb.
A folyosó hosszú és sötét volt, csak egyetlen gyenge izzó világította meg.
Heavy clouds hung over the city, turning the afternoon sky a sombre grey.
Nehéz felhők ültek a város fölött, és komor szürkére festették a délutáni eget.
She chose a sombre dress in dark blue for the memorial service.
The painting is full of browns and greys, giving it a sombre beauty.
We walked through the sombre interior of the old church in silence.
Learner examples
The room was small and sombre, with no windows.
A szoba kicsi és sötét volt, ablaka sem volt.
Dark, sombre colours made the café feel quiet.
A sötét, komor színektől a kávézó csendesnek hatott.
A single candle gave the room a soft, sombre light.
The sky looked sombre before the storm.
He painted the walls a sombre grey.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "sombre" for any kind of darkness, for example, "It is sombre outside" to mean simply "It is dark outside." "Sombre" usually describes a visual quality that also suggests a serious or slightly sad feeling, not just the absence of light. Another common issue is spelling: British English prefers "sombre", while American English usually uses "somber".
Meaning
dark or dull in colour/light
Collocations
sombre colors
|sombre lighting
|sombre room
|sombre landscape
|sombre interior
|sombre sky
Synonyms
dark (More general and neutral; does not always suggest a mood or atmosphere.)
|
dull (Focuses on lack of brightness or vividness, and can also mean 'boring'.)
|
gloomy (Stronger feeling of sadness or depression in addition to darkness.)
Antonyms
bright (Has a lot of light or strong, clear colour, giving an opposite visual effect.)
|
vivid (Describes very strong, clear colours, the opposite of muted and sombre colours.)
Themes
appearance
|arts
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
dark or not bright in colour or light, sometimes making a place feel a bit sad or serious
Dark or dull in colour, or not brightly lit, often creating a slightly serious or sad impression.
B2
2
komor
B2
Usage pattern:
a sombre [mood/atmosphere/occasion/expression/tone]
The news of the accident cast a sombre mood over the office.
A baleset híre komor hangulatot teremtett az irodában.
Faces were sombre as the names of the victims were read out.
Az arcok komorak voltak, miközben felolvasták az áldozatok neveit.
The ceremony was simple and sombre, with very few flowers.
He spoke in a sombre tone about the challenges the country was facing.
The film ends on a sombre note, with the main character walking away alone.
Learner examples
After the bad news, everyone was quiet and sombre.
A rossz hír után mindenki csendes és komor volt.
Her smile disappeared, and her face became sombre.
Eltűnt a mosolya, és az arca komorrá vált.
It was a sombre meeting after the company lost many jobs.
The classroom had a sombre atmosphere after the exam results.
He wrote a sombre letter about the future of the project.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "sombre" with "sober" or use it to mean simply "boring." "Sombre" describes a serious, sad, or heavy mood or style, not just something that is not fun. Another mistake is overusing it directly with people (e.g. "She is very sombre"), which is possible but less common; it is more natural to describe a person's mood, expression, or tone: "She looked sombre," "He had a sombre expression." Also note the spelling difference: British English "sombre" vs. American English "somber."
Meaning
serious, sad, without cheer
Collocations
sombre mood
|sombre atmosphere
|sombre expression
|sombre occasion
|sombre tone
|sombre speech
Synonyms
gloomy (Often stronger and more emotional, suggesting deep sadness or depression.)
|
solemn (Stresses seriousness and formality, especially in ceremonies or speech, and may be less about sadness.)
|
downcast (Usually describes a person, emphasising how they personally feel sad or discouraged.)
Antonyms
cheerful (Describes a happy and positive mood, the opposite of a sad or heavy feeling.)
|
light-hearted (Carefree and relaxed in mood, the opposite of serious and weighed down.)
Themes
emotions
|social situations
|news
|arts
|core_vocabulary
Definition
serious and quiet, with a sad or heavy feeling and not cheerful
Serious, quiet, and without joy; having or creating a sad, grave, or thoughtful mood or atmosphere.
Grammar
Dictionary form
sombre
IPA
GB/sˈɑmbɚ/
US/sˈɑmbɚ/
Syllables & stress
sombre (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (sombre)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: sombre
Word family
Expressions
in a sombre mood
1/ˈɪn ə sˈɑmbɚ mˈud/
fixed phrase
feeling serious and sad
feeling quiet, serious, and a bit sad; not happy or cheerful
Examples
- She arrived at the party in a sombre mood and left early.
- After hearing the verdict, he was in a sombre mood for the rest of the day.
on a sombre note
1/ˈɔn ə sˈɑmbɚ nˈoʊt/
fixed phrase
ending in a serious, sad way
used when ending a talk, meeting, or piece of writing with something serious and sad instead of something happy
Examples
- The meeting ended on a sombre note with a discussion of the recent layoffs.
- I do not want to finish on a sombre note, so let me share one positive story.
sombre atmosphere
1/sˈɑmbɚ ˈætməsfˌɪɹ/
fixed phrase
serious, sad atmosphere
a feeling in a place that is very quiet, serious, and a bit sad
Examples
- A sombre atmosphere filled the church as people waited for the service to begin.
- The empty streets and closed shops created a sombre atmosphere in the town.
sombre expression
1/sˈɑmbɚ ɪkspɹˈɛʃən/
fixed phrase
serious, sad facial expression
a face that looks serious and a bit sad, without a smile
Examples
- The doctor had a sombre expression when she entered the room.
- He listened with a sombre expression as she told her story.
sombre mood
1/sˈɑmbɚ mˈud/
fixed phrase
a serious, sad general feeling
a general feeling in a place or group of people that is serious and sad
Examples
- There was a sombre mood in the office after the layoffs were announced.
- The judge’s words created a sombre mood in the courtroom.
sombre occasion
1/sˈɑmbɚ ɔkˈeɪʒən/
fixed phrase
serious, sad event
an event where people are serious and usually a bit sad, not happy or celebrating
Examples
- The funeral was a sombre occasion attended by close family only.
- It was a sombre occasion, and no one felt like making small talk.
sombre reminder
1/sˈɑmbɚ ɹimˈaɪndɚ/
fixed phrase
sad and serious reminder
something that makes you remember a fact or event in a serious and sad way
Examples
- The empty chairs were a sombre reminder of those who had died.
- The ruins stand as a sombre reminder of the war.
sombre tone
1/sˈɑmbɚ tˈoʊn/
fixed phrase
serious, sad way of speaking
a way of speaking, writing, or playing music that sounds serious and a bit sad
Examples
- The prime minister adopted a sombre tone when addressing the nation.
- The report’s sombre tone reflected the scale of the crisis.