sober
Americanadjective
-
not intoxicated or drunk.
-
habitually temperate, especially in the use of liquor.
- Synonyms:
- abstemious, abstinent
-
quiet or sedate in demeanor, as persons.
-
marked by seriousness, gravity, solemnity, etc., as of demeanor, speech, etc..
a sober occasion.
- Antonyms:
- gay
-
subdued in tone, as color; not colorful or showy, as clothes.
-
free from excess, extravagance, or exaggeration.
sober facts.
-
showing self-control.
sober restraint.
-
sane or rational.
a sober solution to the problem.
- Synonyms:
- sound, reasonable
verb (used with or without object)
adjective
-
not drunk
-
not given to excessive indulgence in drink or any other activity
-
sedate and rational
a sober attitude to a problem
-
(of colours) plain and dull or subdued
-
free from exaggeration or speculation
he told us the sober truth
verb
Related Words
See grave 2.
Other Word Forms
- nonsober adjective
- nonsoberly adverb
- nonsoberness noun
- quasi-sober adjective
- quasi-soberly adverb
- sobering adjective
- soberingly adverb
- soberly adverb
- soberness noun
- unsober adjective
- unsobered adjective
- unsoberly adverb
- unsoberness noun
Etymology
Origin of sober
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English sobre, from Old French, from Latin sōbrius
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Fifty years ago, at America’s bicentennial, Martin Diamond, a political scientist, celebrated our founding as “the revolution of sober expectations.”
Receiving treatments like massage and hydrotherapy, Kate sobered, and remained sober for many months.
From Literature
His calling card: He added a dose of mirth to the sober ministerings of a profession not known for its sense of humor or rhetorical skills.
Rowdy was watching the monkeys and I could tell by his actions that no matter if they were drunk or sober, he wasn’t having anything to do with them.
From Literature
This sets a sober tone for Lowe’s upcoming report, shifting investor focus from market speculation to core fundamentals—which have been relatively strong in recent quarters.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
