sober

[soh-ber]

adjective

soberer, soberest 

1. not intoxicated or drunk.

2. habitually temperate, especially in the use of liquor.

   Synonyms: abstemious, abstinent

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 byup ).

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

Other Word Forms

• soberly adverb
• soberness noun
• nonsober adjective
• nonsoberly adverb
• nonsoberness noun
• quasi-sober adjective
• quasi-soberly adverb
• unsober adjective
• unsoberly adverb
• unsoberness noun
• unsobered adjective
• sobering adjective
• soberingly adverb

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

It touched down in places such as Vietnam and Alaska and ended with a helicopter ride to safety for Montgomery and a sober but ultimately uplifting lesson in wilderness survival rules for Troop 26.

From Los Angeles Times

“With that, there are veterans out there that are sober and would like programs where they can be around other veterans that are sober.”

From Los Angeles Times

Now cleared for romance, the author has a sober dating plan intended to create boundaries and avoid jumping into another relationship too quickly.

From Los Angeles Times

It is a sobering reminder that desperate people will keep trying to reach Europe, despite the enormous risks.

From BBC

Now three years sober, Coria said having a social experience that doesn’t center on alcohol has made all the difference.

From Los Angeles Times

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