gloomy
gb/ɡlˈumi/ us/ɡlˈumi/
A2
English
~ 3000
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
Dark or dim in appearance
Not bright; dark because there is little light.
Usage pattern:
[a place] is gloomy
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'gloomy' with 'cloudy', but 'gloomy' also suggests a darker, more depressing feeling, not just cloud cover.
Synonyms
dim (Suggests low light without necessarily implying sadness.)
Antonyms
bright (Indicates a place with plenty of light.)
Collocations
gloomy room
|gloomy sky
|gloomy weather
|gloomy interior
Themes
weather
|daily life
|visual
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The basement was cold and gloomy.
- A gloomy sky hung over the city all day.
- The gloomy hallway made the old house feel eerie.
Learner examples
- The room is gloomy.
- It is a gloomy day.
- The street looks gloomy.
adjective
B1
property
2
Sad or pessimistic in mood
Sad or without hope; making you feel sad.
Usage pattern:
[someone] feels gloomy
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'gloomy' only for weather, forgetting it can describe people and feelings too.
Synonyms
depressed (Stronger and more clinical than 'gloomy'.)
Antonyms
cheerful (Describes a happy, positive mood.)
Collocations
feel gloomy
|gloomy mood
|gloomy outlook
|gloomy news
Themes
emotions
|mental health
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She felt gloomy after hearing the bad news.
- The team's gloomy outlook worried their fans.
- He gave a gloomy speech about the future of the economy.
Learner examples
- I feel gloomy today.
- He looks gloomy.
- The news made her gloomy.
Grammar
Dictionary form
gloomy
IPA
GB/ɡlˈumi/
US/ɡlˈumi/
Syllables & stress
gloomy (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (gloomy)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: gloomy
- Comparative: gloomier
- Superlative: gloomiest
Word family
Expressions
gloomy forecast
1/ɡlˈumi fˈɔɹkˌæst/
fixed phrase
Prediction of bad conditions ahead
A statement that bad things are likely to happen soon.
Examples
- The weather service issued a gloomy forecast for the weekend.
- Experts gave a gloomy forecast for the economy.
gloomy mood
1/ɡlˈumi mˈud/
fixed phrase
State of feeling sad or discouraged
A feeling of sadness or no hope.
Examples
- He was in a gloomy mood all day.
- The rainy weather put everyone in a gloomy mood.
gloomy outlook
1/ɡlˈumi ˈaʊtlˌʊk/
fixed phrase
Negative view of the future
Thinking that bad things will happen in the future.
Examples
- Economists have a gloomy outlook for the coming year.
- After the accident, he had a gloomy outlook on life.