# sober

/ˈsoʊbɝ/ (US) · /sˈəʊbɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sober
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. not drunk

adjective · CEFR B1

not affected by alcohol or drugs.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. serious and sensible

adjective · CEFR B2

serious, calm, and sensible in your thinking.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. plain or dull

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

plain and not bright in colour.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. to become less drunk

verb · CEFR B2

to stop feeling the effects of alcohol, often used with 'up'.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The bad news helped him sober up quickly.
- The sight of the damaged car served to sober the teenagers after their night of celebration.
- While the initial excitement of the merger buoyed stock prices, the subsequent quarterly report served to sober investors who had overlooked the company's significant debt obligations.

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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.