sober

[ soh-ber ]

adjective

, so·ber·er, so·ber·est.

1. not intoxicated or drunk.
2. habitually temperate, especially in the use of liquor.

   Synonyms: abstinent, abstemious

3. quiet or sedate in demeanor, as persons.
4. marked by seriousness, gravity, solemnity, etc., as of demeanor, speech, etc.:

   a sober occasion.

   Synonyms: staid, subdued, sedate, quiet, serious

   Antonyms: gay

5. subdued in tone, as color; not colorful or showy, as clothes.

   Synonyms: dull, somber

6. free from excess, extravagance, or exaggeration:

   sober facts.

7. showing self-control:

   sober restraint.

   Synonyms: collected, composed

8. sane or rational:

   a sober solution to the problem.

   Synonyms: sound, reasonable

verb (used with or without object)

1. to make or become sober: (often followed by up ).

sober

/ ˈsəʊbə /

adjective

1. not drunk
2. not given to excessive indulgence in drink or any other activity
3. sedate and rational

   a sober attitude to a problem

4. (of colours) plain and dull or subdued
5. free from exaggeration or speculation

   he told us the sober truth

verb

1. usually foll by up to make or become less intoxicated, reckless, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈsobering, adjective
• ˈsoberness, noun
• ˈsoberingly, adverb
• ˈsoberly, adverb

Other Words From

• so·ber·ly adverb
• so·ber·ness noun
• non·so·ber adjective
• non·so·ber·ly adverb
• non·so·ber·ness noun
• qua·si-so·ber adjective
• qua·si-so·ber·ly adverb
• un·so·ber adjective
• un·so·ber·ly adverb
• un·so·ber·ness noun
• un·so·bered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sober¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English sobre, from Old French, from Latin sōbrius

Word History and Origins

Origin of sober¹

C14 sobre, from Old French, from Latin sōbrius

Synonym Study

See grave ².

Example Sentences

A sobering independent review two months later determined there was “near zero probability” of Mars Sample Return making its proposed 2028 launch date, and “no credible” way to fulfill the mission within its current budget.

From Los Angeles Times

His behaviour is a sobering reminder that entitlement and impunity may be more deeply embedded in Nigerian culture than generational change alone can address.

From BBC

What they also delivered was a sobering reality check for Jimmy Thelin's men.

From BBC

Those images are sobering for the staff back in Lviv as they work hard to send more and more vehicles to the front.

From BBC

Vice President Kamala Harris, seeking the mantle of a sober problem-solver in comparison to former President Donald Trump, has released an extensive plan to reduce the costs of housing, largely by building more of it.

From Salon

Related Words

• dark
• disciplined
• dispassionate
• down-to-earth
• earnest
• levelheaded
• low-key
• lucid
• no-nonsense
• practical
• quiet
• rational
• realistic
• reasonable
• restrained
• sedate
• serene
• serious
• solemn
• somber