gloomy

IPA/ˈɡluːmi/
KK[ɡlˈumi]IPA/ˈɡluːmi/

gloomy — adjective

  • gloomypositive
  • gloomiercomparative
  • gloomiestsuperlative

1. feeling very sad and thinking that good things will not happen again

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

feeling very sad and thinking that good things will not happen again

Example

After the exam results, Amelia felt gloomy and did not want to talk.

feel gloomy + reason clause

The gloomy expression on Hao's face showed that he had bad news.

gloomy + noun (expression/face)

Common collocations
  • feel gloomy
  • look gloomy
  • become gloomy
  • grow gloomy
  • gloomy mood
  • gloomy expression
  • gloomy face
Synonyms
  • sad

    more general and milder; the basic word for unhappiness

  • melancholy

    more literary and formal; suggests a deep, thoughtful sadness

  • glum

    describes a silent, sulky unhappiness, often shown on the face

  • dejected

    suggests sadness caused by a specific disappointment or failure

Antonyms
  • cheerful

    showing happiness and good spirits

  • happy

    the general opposite of any sad feeling

Grammar Patterns

be/look/feel/seem + gloomy

gloomy + noun (mood/expression/face)

Usage Note

Describes a temporary mood rather than a long-term condition. For more serious or lasting sadness, use 'depressed'.

Common Mistakes

After losing his job, he felt gloomy for two years.
After losing his job, he felt depressed for two years.
'Gloomy' suggests a temporary mood; use 'depressed' for long-term sadness.

2. believing that things will end badly or that nothing good will come of a situati

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

believing that things will end badly or that nothing good will come of a situation

Example

Economists gave a gloomy report on the country's job market.

gloomy report on [topic]

Manuela felt gloomy about her chances of getting into medical school.

feel gloomy about + noun phrase

Common collocations
  • gloomy about
  • gloomy report
  • gloomy prediction
  • gloomy outlook
  • gloomy forecast
  • gloomy silence
  • remain gloomy
Synonyms
  • pessimistic

    more formal and precise; the direct synonym for this sense

  • bleak

    stronger; suggests a situation that offers no hope at all

  • hopeless

    stronger finality; implies no possibility of improvement

  • negative

    milder and more general; can describe any unfavourable attitude

Antonyms
  • optimistic

    expecting good things to happen

  • hopeful

    feeling that something desired will happen

  • positive

    focusing on the good aspects of a situation

Grammar Patterns

gloomy + noun (report/prediction/outlook)

be/feel gloomy about + noun/-ing

Usage Note

Often used with 'about' to specify what someone is pessimistic about. Common in news reports about the economy, politics, or business.

Common Mistakes

She felt gloomy about her friend's sadness.
She felt gloomy about her job interview next week.
This sense is about expecting bad outcomes, not about feeling sad for someone.

3. so dark that it feels unpleasant or uncomfortable to be there

3.adjectiveB1
Definition

so dark that it feels unpleasant or uncomfortable to be there

Example

The old house had gloomy hallways with no windows at all.

gloomy + room/building (poorly lit place)

Adisa opened the curtains to let light into the gloomy living room.

Common collocations
  • gloomy sky
  • gloomy weather
  • gloomy room
  • gloomy hallway
  • gloomy forest
  • gloomy light
  • gloomy corridor
Synonyms
  • dark

    neutral word for little or no light; does not carry emotional weight

  • dim

    not bright enough to see well; neutral and practical

  • dreary

    adds a sense of dullness and boredom to the lack of light

  • murky

    suggests it is hard to see through fog, smoke, or dirty water

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

gloomy + noun (room/sky/forest)

be/look/seem/turn + gloomy

Usage Note

Unlike neutral words like 'dark' or 'dim', gloomy carries a negative emotional tone — the darkness feels oppressive or depressing, not merely absent of light.

Common Mistakes

I turned on a small lamp because the room was gloomy.
I turned on a small lamp because the room was dim.
If the darkness is neutral and easily fixed by a light, use 'dim' or 'dark' instead of the emotionally loaded 'gloomy'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All five words describe unhappiness, but they differ in tone and duration. 'Sad' is the most general and neutral — you can feel sad for any reason and for any length of time. 'Gloomy' adds the nuance of hopelessness: a gloomy person thinks things will not improve. 'Melancholy' is more literary and suggests a gentle, reflective sadness that may be part of someone's personality. 'Glum' describes a silent, withdrawn unhappiness, often shown through a lack of talking or a downcast face. 'Dejected' is more specific: it is the sadness that follows a clear disappointment or failure. 'Somber' leans toward seriousness and dignity — it is less about personal feeling and more about the atmosphere or a grave situation. For example: 'She felt sad after the movie ended' (temporary, mild), versus 'He was dejected after failing the driving test three times' (disappointment-driven), versus 'The family's mood was somber at the funeral' (serious and respectful).

sad ↗melancholy ↗glum ↗dejected ↗somber ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • gloomy silence
  • gloomy mood
  • gloomy expression

Adverbs

  • rather gloomy
  • so gloomy
  • increasingly gloomy
  • deeply gloomy

Phrases

  • a gloomy picture
  • gloomy prospects
  • gloomy economic forecast

Prepositions

  • gloomy about

Etymology

Middle EnglishEnglish

The word 'gloomy' comes from the Middle English 'glom', which meant 'darkness' or 'twilight'. The suffix '-y' was added to form an adjective meaning 'full of gloom'. The word was first used to describe dark, poorly lit places, and later extended to describe a person's mood — as if their spirit is as dark as a shadowy room.