Word
sober
US/ˈsoʊbɝ/
UK/sˈəʊbɐ/
Definitions
01not drunk
B1 · Intermediate
adj. not affected by alcohol or drugs.
adj. not intoxicated by alcohol or under the influence of recreational drugs.
“He decided to stay sober so he could drive his friends home safely.”
“The witness provided a remarkably clear account of the accident, having remained entirely sober throughout the evening's festivities.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02serious and sensible
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. serious, calm, and sensible in your thinking.
adj. serious, sensible, and solemn in character or manner; showing self-control.
“After the accident, they had a sober discussion about safety rules.”
“The CEO gave a sober assessment of the company's financial situation, avoiding any optimistic language that might mislead the board.”
03plain or dull
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. plain and not bright in colour.
adj. subdued or muted in colour or tone; lacking brightness or ornamentation.
“She wore a sober grey suit for the job interview.”
“The office was decorated in sober tones of brown and navy, creating a professional if somewhat uninspiring atmosphere.”
04to become less drunk
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to stop feeling the effects of alcohol, often used with 'up'.
v. to become sober after a period of intoxication; frequently functions as a phrasal verb with 'up'.
“A walk in the cold air helped him sober up after the party.”
“It took several hours for the suspect to sober up enough to provide a coherent statement to the investigators.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“But despite the relaxed TED talk vibe, this was sober and serious speech.” “After the break, Beard got sober and toured with the band for decades.” Etymology
Inherited from Middle English sober, from Old French sobre, from Latin sōbrius, from se- (“without”) + ebrius (“intoxicated”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁egʷʰ- (“drink”). In the sense "not drunk," displaced native undrunken, from Old English undruncen.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
In Music
Cover shown under fair use for identification and commentary.
Sober · 1993 · Alternative metal
- Artist:
- Tool
- Album:
- Undertow
Released in 1993, this alternative metal track by Tool explores the struggle of a friend who can only create art while under the influence. The title refers to the literal state of not being affected by drugs or alcohol, highlighting the difficulty of maintaining a clear mind while trying to be creative.
- 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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