ombre

American  

[om-brey] / ˈɒm breɪ /

Or ombré

adjective

1. having a pattern in which colors or tones fade into one another: The dress has an ombre effect with various intensities of purple fading to white.

   Her ombre hair goes from brown at the top to bleached blond at the bottom.

   The dress has an ombre effect with various intensities of purple fading to white.

---

ombre British  

/ ˈɒmbə /

noun

1. an 18th-century card game

---

Etymology

Origin of ombre

First recorded in 1840–45; from French ombré “shadowed, shaded,” past participle of ombrer, from Italian ombrare “to cover in shadow” (in painting); see origin at umber, umbra ( def. )

Example Sentences

Young poet Gurpreet Saini, who performs at cultural festivals across India, says he sources his shawls - printed with ombre Gurmukhi letters - from Hariana, his hometown in Punjab, for a distinctive look.

From BBC • May 31, 2025

Its Jan. 27 cover was an elegant and elegiac illustration of seven long-legged, shaggy-capped palms against a menacing ombre orange backdrop of approaching fire.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2025

Like Ayo Edibiri’s ombre flower gown — which reserves its bottom half to a riot of pastel flowers — Levy’s suit does nothing for the eye.

From Salon • May 7, 2024

It has its knitters and crocheters, ombre hairdos, makeup enthusiasts and nail designs.

From Washington Times • Oct. 24, 2023

She looked gorgeous, with this ombre lip gloss and a deep burgundy strapless dress that set off her blond hair.

From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon