gloom
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
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.
Simple“We could just make out the shape of a house through the evening gloom.”
In context“The hikers struggled to find the trail as the forest gloom deepened under the thick canopy of ancient pines.”
Antonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a feeling of being very sad and without hope.
n.a state of depression, despondency, or a melancholic atmosphere.
Simple“Despite the bad news, she tried not to let the gloom affect her work.”
In context“A sense of economic gloom settled over the town after the main factory announced its permanent closure.”
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
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.
Simple“The sudden storm clouds arrived to gloom the afternoon sky.”
In context“The tragic events of the previous winter continued to gloom his thoughts long after the spring thaw had begun.”
Antonyms
“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.”
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.