sober
see also: Sober
Pronunciation
  • enPR: sō'bə(r), IPA: /ˈsəʊ.bə(ɹ)/
Adjective

sober (comparative soberer, superlative soberest)

  1. not drunk; not intoxicated
  2. not given to excessive drinking of alcohol
    • 1890, John Charles, The Godly, Righteous, And Sober Life
  3. moderate; realistic; serious; not playful; not passionate; cool; self-controlled
    • 1680, John Dryden, Ovid's Epistles
      No sober man would put himself into danger for the applause of escaping without breaking his neck.
    • 2005, Plato, Sophist. Translation by Lesley Brown. 230d.
      Which is the finest and soberest state possible.
    • 1678, Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress, Second period
      God help me to watch and to be sober.
  4. dull; not bright or colorful
  5. subdued; solemn; grave
    • c. 1716, Matthew Prior, Alma
      What parts gay France from sober Spain? A little rising rocky chain.
    • 1717, Alexander Pope, Letter from Edward Blount, Esq.
      See her sober over a sampler, or gay over a jointed baby.
  6. (Scotland) poor; feeble
Synonyms Antonyms Translations Translations Translations Translations Verb

sober (sobers, present participle sobering; past and past participle sobered)

  1. (often with up) To make or become sober.
  2. (often with up) To overcome or lose a state of intoxication.
    It took him hours to sober up.
  3. To moderate one's feelings
Translations Translations
  • French: cuver
  • German: ausnüchtern

Sober
Proper noun
  1. Surname



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