# drab

/ˈdɹæb/ (US) · /dɹˈæb/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/drab
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

boring, dull, and lacking any bright colors or excitement. You use it to describe things that look gray or tired.

For teachers: lacking brightness, interest, or spirit; dull and monotonous in appearance or character. Often used to describe colors, weather, or repetitive environments.

## Examples

- The office was painted a drab shade of gray.
- After living in the colorful city, she found the small town's architecture quite drab and uninspiring.
- The film captures the drab reality of industrial life through a muted color palette and long, silent shots of empty factories.

## Usage notes

- Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb like 'look' or 'seem'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.