Word
gloom
US/ˈɡɫum/
UK/ɡlˈuːm/
Definitions
01partial darkness
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. a state of being almost dark, where it is difficult to see clearly.
n. a state of partial or total darkness; dimness that obscures vision.
“We could just make out the shape of a house through the evening gloom.”
“The hikers struggled to find the trail as the forest gloom deepened under the thick canopy of ancient pines.”
Antonyms
02sadness or hopelessness
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. a feeling of being very sad and without hope.
n. a state of depression, despondency, or a melancholic atmosphere.
日本語:憂うつ※
“Despite the bad news, she tried not to let the gloom affect her work.”
“A sense of economic gloom settled over the town after the main factory announced its permanent closure.”
Synonyms
03to make dark or sad
C2 · Proficiency Literary
v. to make a place dark or to make someone feel sad.
v. to obscure or darken a physical space, or to render a situation or person dismal. Used transitively, taking a direct object.
“The sudden storm clouds arrived to gloom the afternoon sky.”
“The tragic events of the previous winter continued to gloom his thoughts long after the spring thaw had begun.”
Antonyms
Usage
Often paired with 'of' to describe a specific source of darkness or sadness ('the gloom of the cellar', 'the gloom of the recession').
Real-World Examples
“To their credit, Azan Awais and Shan Masood survived 12 overs in the gloom, even if Masood survived a tough chance to third slip Duckett off the bowling of Gus Atkinson.” “We spend so much time on the negatives and fear and doom and gloom.” Etymology
From Middle English gloom, glom, from Old English glōm (“gloaming, twilight, darkness”), from Proto-West Germanic glōm, from Proto-Germanic glōmaz (“gleam, shimmer, sheen”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰley- (“to gleam, shimmer, glow”). The English word is cognate with Norwegian glom (“transparent membrane”), Scots gloam (“twilight; faint light; dull gleam”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/gloom
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0