somber
gb/sˈɑmbɚ/ us/sˈɑmbɚ/
B2
Anglais
Sens
0 sens
adjective
B2
property
1
serious and slightly sad
serious and a little sad
Schéma d’usage :
[a somber mood/tone/occasion]
Erreur fréquente :
Often confused with sober (not drunk; or serious in a more practical way). Somber usually suggests sadness or gloom.
Synonymes
gloomy (More strongly suggests darkness or depression.)
|
grave (More formal; emphasizes seriousness and importance.)
|
solemn (Often used for formal or ceremonial seriousness.)
|
sombre (British spelling of somber.)
Antonymes
cheerful (Positive, happy in mood or tone.)
|
lighthearted (Not serious; playful.)
|
upbeat (Positive and optimistic in tone.)
Collocations
somber mood
|somber tone
|somber voice
|somber expression
|somber atmosphere
|somber news
|somber occasion
|somber reminder
|a somber moment
|somber reflection
Thèmes
emotions
|communication
|social_life
Exemples
- The room fell somber when the results were announced.
- She spoke in a somber tone about the recent layoffs.
- It was a somber ceremony, but it helped people say goodbye.
Exemples pédagogiques
- He looked somber after the meeting.
- The music sounds somber.
adjective
C1
property
2
dark in color or lighting
dark and not bright
Schéma d’usage :
[somber colors/lighting/room]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may overuse somber for any dark color; it usually implies a dull, muted, serious look rather than simply 'black' or 'dark'.
Synonymes
dark (More general; does not necessarily suggest muted or serious effect.)
|
muted (Emphasizes soft, subdued color rather than darkness.)
|
dull (Suggests lack of brightness or interest.)
Antonymes
bright (Full of light or vivid color.)
|
vivid (Strong, intense colors.)
|
colorful (Many bright colors.)
Collocations
somber colors
|somber lighting
|somber palette
|somber shades
|somber interior
|somber decor
|somber clothing
|a somber room
|somber streets
|somber sky
Thèmes
appearance
|arts
|daily_life
Exemples
- The designer chose somber colors to give the room a calm, restrained look.
- The film’s somber lighting made the streets feel unsafe.
- He wore a somber gray suit that blended into the rainy day.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The painting uses somber colors.
- The room looks somber in this light.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
somber
API
GB/sˈɑmbɚ/
US/sˈɑmbɚ/
Syllabes et accentuation
somber (1 syllabe)
Stress on 1st syllable (somber)
Formes du mot
Adjective
- Base: somber
Expressions
on a somber note
1/ˈɔn ə sˈɑmbɚ nˈoʊt/
fixed phrase
shifting to a serious topic
used before saying something serious or sad
Exemples
- On a somber note, two people were injured in the storm.
- We had a great time overall, but on a somber note, the trip ended with a delay.
- On a somber note, the report also warns of rising costs next year.