Pronunciations (3)
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/ˈsəʊ.bə(ɹ)/
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/ˈsoʊ.bɚ/
Pronunciation notes
- General-American
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ˈsəʊ.bə(ɹ)
Adjective
Not drunk; not intoxicated.
- Antonyms
Not under the influence of any recreational drug.
- Examples
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Ten months sober, I must admit Just because you're clean, don't mean you don't miss it
Not given to excessive drinking of alcohol.
- Synonyms
- Examples
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More examples (1)
Amid all the confusion and disorder that sin has introduced into the world, the Christian in union with God has a grace or Divine help that enables him to live the sober, self-restrained life.
After eliminating alcohol from their lives, some sober individuals exclusively date nondrinkers.
Rose told me that she's sober.
Moderate; realistic; serious; not playful; not passionate; cool; self-controlled.
Usage- Figurative
- Examples
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God help me to watch and to be sober.
[N]o ſober man vvould put himſelf into a danger for the Applauſe of ſcaping vvithout breaking his Neck.
More examples (1)
Which is the finest and soberest state possible.
Dull; not bright or colorful.
Usage- of color
- Examples
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Twilight grey / Had in her sober livery all things clad.
Subdued; solemn; grave.
- Examples
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See her sober over a sampler, or gay over a jointed baby.
What parts gay France from sober Spain? A little rising rocky chain.
Poor; feeble.
Usage- Scotland
Verb
To make or become sober.
Usage- often
- with-up
- Examples
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His expression sobered.
There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, / And drinking largely sobers us again.
More examples (1)
The night air may have sobered him a bit by the time they got back to Beattock.
To overcome or lose a state of intoxication.
Usage- often
- with-up
- Examples
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It took him hours to sober up.
To moderate one's feelings; to accept a disappointing reality after losing one's ability to believe in a fantastic goal.
- Examples
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Losing his job was a sobering experience.
Adjective
not affected by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)
- Antonyms
dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises
- Examples
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a grave God-fearing man
a quiet sedate nature
More examples (3)
as sober as a judge
a solemn promise
the judge was solemn as he pronounced sentence
lacking brightness or color; dull
- Examples
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drab faded curtains
sober Puritan grey
More examples (1)
children in somber brown clothes
completely lacking in playfulness
Verb
cause to become sober
- Examples
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A sobering thought
become more realistic
- Synonyms
- Examples
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After thinking about the potential consequences of his plan, he sobered up
become sober after excessive alcohol consumption
- Synonyms
- Examples
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Keep him in bed until he sobers up