sombresom‧bre British English, somber American English /ˈsɒmbə $ ˈsɑːmbər/ adjective 
They sat in sombre silence. We were all in a somber mood that night. a sombre expression on the sombre occasion of his mother’s funeral► see thesaurus at serious2dark and without any bright colours: a sombre grey suit—sombrely adverb—sombreness noun [uncountable]
WORD ORIGINsomber
Origin:
1700-1800 French sombre, probably from Latin sub ‘under’ + umbra ‘shade, shadow’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- The sun was shining brightly, but the mood was sombre.
- If the outcome of this sombre, lovingly detailed film is unsurprising, its emotional power is undeniable.
- In sombre silence, wearing black ties, the Calvinist elders walk between the unusually-full pews.
- In the sombre main chamber where most of his days were spent, there was no decoration, no contrasting texture.
- In the Allegretto the music begins in the sombre low register and gradually rises through the octaves.
- The procession was one of sombre colours, khaki and air force blue predominating.
THESAURUSnot joking
not joking or laughing, or not pretending: · His voice sounded serious.· They seem to be serious about their relationship.
very serious because of an important or sad occasion or ceremony: · My father looked solemn, the way grown-ups look at funerals.· The judge read the verdict in a solemn voice.
written quiet and very serious – used especially about the way people look when something important or worrying happens: · She consulted Doctor Staples and returned looking grave.· He listened with a grave expression on his face.
British English (also somber American English) written sad, quiet, or serious because something unpleasant or worrying has happened or is going to happen: · They sat in sombre silence.· The meeting began in a sombre mood.
very serious and sincere – often used about someone who is young and not very experienced: · He was a rather earnest-looking young man.· ‘That’s wrong,’ she said, her voice sounding very earnest.
Longman Language Activatorbehaving in a serious way if someone says or does something in a serious way, they think that what they are saying or doing is important and should not be joked about: · All the other people in the office seemed to have a very serious attitude towards their work.serious about: · The band are only young, but they're very serious about their music.
to think that something is important, and spend a lot of time and effort on it: · I wish Dan would take his work more seriously.· She certainly takes her politics seriously -- she's always out at meetings.take life seriously (=think that everything in life is very important and serious): · He seemed much older than he was, and took life a little too seriously.
written quiet and very serious, especially because something important or worrying has happened: · Holmes looked grave, and stood deep in worried thought for a minute or two.· His expression became very grave when we told him what had happened.
very serious because of an important or sad occasion or ceremony: · Everyone stood respectfully, and looked solemn throughout the funeral service.· The judge read the verdict in a clear and solemn voice.
British /somber American sad, quiet, and serious because something unpleasant or worrying has happened or is going to happen: · They sat in somber silence.· The sun was shining brightly, but the mood was sombre.
serious and not smiling, because you are angry, upset, or worried about something: · She looked grim and upset, standing silently in the corner.· A grim-faced diplomat read out the declaration of war.
WORD SETSamber, nounamethyst, nounapricot, nounaquamarine, nounashen, adjectiveauburn, adjectiveazure, adjectivebar, nounbarred, adjectivebeige, nounblack, adjectiveblack, nounblack, verbblack and white, adjectiveblacken, verbbleed, verbblood-red, adjectiveblue, adjectiveblue, nounbluish, adjectivebold, adjectivebottle green, nounbrassy, adjectivebrindled, adjectivebronze, nounbronze, adjectivebrown, adjectivebrown, nounbuff, nounburgundy, nouncarmine, nouncarroty, adjectivecerise, nouncerulean, nounchartreuse, nouncherry, nounchestnut, nounchestnut, adjectivechromatic, adjectivechrome yellow, nounclaret, nounclear, adjectivecoffee, nouncool, adjectivecopper, nouncoral, adjectivecream, adjectivecreamy, adjectivecrimson, adjectivecyan, adjectivedappled, adjectivedapple-grey, nounDay-Glo, adjectivediscoloration, noundiscolour, verbdrab, adjectivedull, adjectivedun, noundusky, adjectivedye, verbebony, adjectivefawn, adjectiveflaxen, adjectiveflesh-coloured, adjectiveflorid, adjectivefluorescent, adjectiveflush, nounfuchsia, noungarish, adjectivegarnet, noungaudy, adjectivegay, adjectiveginger, adjectivegold, noungold, adjectivegolden, adjectivegray, green, adjectivegreen, noungreenish, adjectivegrey, adjectivegrey, noungreyish, adjectivehazel, adjectiveindigo, nouniridescent, adjectiveivory, nounjade, nounjet-black, adjectivekhaki, nounlavender, nounleaden, adjectivelemon, nounlilac, nounlily-white, adjectivelime green, nounlivid, adjectiveloud, adjectiveluminous, adjectivelurid, adjectivemagenta, nounmagnolia, nounmahogany, nounmaroon, nounmatch, nounmauve, nounmellow, adjectivemellow, verbmonochrome, adjectivemousy, adjectivemuddy, adjectivemulticoloured, adjectivemustard, nounmuted, adjectivenavy blue, adjectiveneutral, adjectiveochre, nounoff-white, nounolive, nounopalescent, adjectiveorange, nounpale, adjectivepastel, nounpastel, adjectivepeach, nounpea green, nounpearly, adjectivepepper-and-salt, adjectivepink, adjectivepink, nounpinkish, adjectiveplum, nounplum, adjectivepowder blue, nounprimary colour, nounprimrose, nounprismatic, adjectivepuce, adjectivepure, adjectivepurple, nounpurplish, adjectivered, adjectivered, nounredden, verbreddish, adjectiveredhead, nounrestrained, adjectiverich, adjectiverose, nounrose, adjectiveroseate, adjectiverose-coloured, adjectiverosy, adjectiveroyal blue, nounruby, nounruddy, adjectiverusset, nounsable, adjectivesaffron, nounscarlet, adjectivesepia, nounshade, nounshocking pink, nounsienna, nounsilver, nounsilver, adjectivesilvery, adjectivesky-blue, adjectivesnow-white, adjectivesnowy, adjectivesoft, adjectivesombre, adjectivesteely, adjectivetaupe, nountawny, adjectiveteal, nountint, nountint, verbtone, nounturquoise, nountwo-tone, adjectiveultramarine, nounumber, nounvermilion, nounvibrant, adjectiveviolet, nounwarm, adjectivewaxen, adjectiveweak, adjectivewhite, adjectivewhite, nounwhiten, verbwhitish, adjectiveyellow, adjectiveyellow, nounyellow, verbyellowy, adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY We were all in a somber mood that night.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1sad and serious SYN grave: We were all in a somber mood that night. British English, a somber mood American English (=serious and slightly sad)· His death has put the country in a sombre mood.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· A successor to Thoughts after Lambeth would have borne a more sombre message.· After August 1937 the international political setting and Nizan's individual emotional state were bathed in a progressively more sombre hue.
NOUN· The fizzing guitars were joined by a trumpet and violin, contributing to the sombre mood.· The killings produced a sombre mood at an anniversary rally in which at least 100,000 people took part.· So right from the beginning of the poem a sombre mood is present in the poem.· Arty sat in sombre mood, thinking of death.· Sehnsucht has many intimations of Schwanengesang: Fassbaender and Reimann perfectly reflect its sombre mood.· Benjamin remained locked in the sombre mood which had dogged him since he had witnessed Buckingham's execution.
They sat in sombre silence. We were all in a somber mood that night. a sombre expression on the sombre occasion of his mother’s funeral► see thesaurus at serious2dark and without any bright colours: a sombre grey suit—sombrely adverb—sombreness noun [uncountable]