sober

sober — adjective

IPA/ˈsəʊbə(r)/
KK[sˈobɚ]IPA/ˈsəʊbər/
  • soberpositive
  • soberercomparative
  • soberestsuperlative

1. A person who is sober has drunk no alcohol, or shows no outward signs of having

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

A person who is sober has drunk no alcohol, or shows no outward signs of having consumed any alcoholic drink.

Example

Felix stayed sober at the party so he could drive his friends home.

collocation: stay sober

The officer asked Yumi to walk in a straight line to prove she was sober.

Common collocations
  • stay sober
  • remain sober
  • perfectly sober
  • completely sober
Synonyms
  • not drunk

    direct equivalent, less formal

  • clear-headed

    emphasises mental clarity rather than simply the absence of alcohol

Antonyms
  • drunk

    opposite state

  • intoxicated

    formal or medical term for being under the influence

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 2 (LONG-TERM ABSTINENCE): this sense describes one's state at a particular moment, not sustained recovery from addiction.

Common Mistakes

He is a sober person who never drinks alcohol at parties.
He stayed sober at the party because he had to drive.
This sense is about a temporary state, not a lifestyle choice.

2. Refers to someone who no longer consumes alcohol or uses illegal drugs over many

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

Refers to someone who no longer consumes alcohol or uses illegal drugs over many months or years, particularly after having been addicted in the past.

Example

Tariq has been sober for three years after completing a rehabilitation programme.

collocation: been sober for [period]

The support group meets every Tuesday to help members stay sober through difficult times.

Common collocations
  • sober for [years/months]
  • stay sober
  • remain sober
  • been sober
Synonyms
  • abstinent

    more formal, used in medical contexts

  • clean

    informal, more common for drug abstinence than alcohol

  • dry

    informal, used specifically for alcohol abstinence

Antonyms
  • addicted

    opposite state of dependence

  • relapsed

    refers to returning to substance use after a period of abstinence

Usage Note

Subject is a person recovering from addiction. Commonly used with a duration: 'sober for [X years/months]'. Not used for temporary abstinence (e.g. choosing not to drink on one occasion).

Common Mistakes

I stayed sober at dinner last night.
I am sober now and attend meetings every week.
Using sense 2 for a single evening is incorrect; sense 1 is the right choice for one-time decisions.

3. Describes a social occasion or gathering at which alcoholic drinks are intention

3.adjectiveB1
Definition

Describes a social occasion or gathering at which alcoholic drinks are intentionally not offered or consumed by the participants.

Example

The office holiday party was a sober event this year, with only soft drinks served.

collocation: sober event

Hannah planned a sober wedding reception so her elderly relatives would feel comfortable.

Common collocations
  • sober event
  • sober party
  • sober wedding
  • sober celebration
Synonyms
  • dry

    informal equivalent, e.g. 'a dry wedding'

  • nonalcoholic

    more general term for events or drinks without alcohol

Usage Note

Only used for events and gatherings. Not used to describe food, drink, or non-social contexts. An event described as 'sober' means no alcohol is involved, not that the atmosphere is serious.

4. A person who is sober behaves in a thoughtful, controlled, and serious manner, w

4.adjectiveB1
Definition

A person who is sober behaves in a thoughtful, controlled, and serious manner, without strong emotions, playfulness, or exaggeration.

Example

The judge remained sober and focused throughout the ten-day trial.

collocation: remained sober

Jessica's sober expression told the children that she was not joking.

collocation: sober expression

Common collocations
  • sober expression
  • sober assessment
  • sober voice
  • sober mood
  • remain sober
Synonyms
  • serious

    more general; 'sober' emphasises calm control while 'serious' can mean any degree of importance

  • solemn

    more formal and grave, often used in ceremonial contexts

  • earnest

    suggests sincere conviction rather than emotional restraint

  • sedate

    emphasises unhurried calm, sometimes suggesting dullness

Antonyms
  • frivolous

    lack of seriousness or good sense

  • excited

    emotionally stirred up, opposite of calm control

Usage Note

Frequently used to describe a person's manner, facial expression, voice, or judgment. Distinguish from sense 5 (PLAIN COLOURS), which describes the appearance of objects or clothing, not a person's demeanour.

Common Mistakes

The doctor had a sober face when giving the bad news.
The doctor gave a sober assessment of the patient's condition.
'Sober face' is acceptable colloquially, but 'sober expression' or 'sober assessment' are more natural collocations.

5. Sober clothes or colours are simple, not shiny or bright, and avoid patterns or

5.adjectiveB2
Definition

Sober clothes or colours are simple, not shiny or bright, and avoid patterns or decorations that draw attention.

Example

Yumi wore a sober grey suit to the job interview.

collocation: sober [colour] suit

Lakan prefers sober colours like navy blue and charcoal grey.

Common collocations
  • sober colour
  • sober suit
  • sober dress
  • sober shade
  • sober grey
Synonyms
  • plain

    more common word for simple, undecorated appearance

  • subdued

    suggests deliberately understated or muted tones

  • sombre

    British spelling; adds a slightly darker or more sorrowful tone

Antonyms
  • bright

    vividly coloured or luminous

  • flashy

    showy and intended to attract attention

Usage Note

Only used for visual appearance — clothing, colours, interior design. Not used to describe sounds, tastes, or personalities. Distinguish from sense 4 (SERIOUS AND CALM), which describes a person's behaviour or manner.

Idioms

stone-cold sober

idiom

Completely without any alcohol in the body.

After the party, Maya was stone-cold sober and drove everyone home.

Brian claimed he was stone-cold sober, but his eyes told a different story.

sober — verb

IPA/ˈsəʊ.bər/
KK[sˈobɚ]IPA/ˈsoʊ.bɚ/

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/4

All five words describe a thoughtful, non-playful manner, but they differ in tone and context. 'Serious' is the broadest term, simply meaning not joking or not trivial. 'Sober' adds the idea of calm, controlled restraint — a sober person does not show strong emotion even when discussing serious topics. 'Solemn' implies formal, ceremonial gravity: a solemn ceremony feels weighty and respectful. 'Grave' is the strongest term, suggesting danger or deep concern: a grave expression suggests something terribly wrong. 'Earnest' emphasises sincere conviction rather than emotional restraint — an earnest person genuinely believes what they are saying. 'Sedate' is milder, suggesting unhurried composure that sometimes borders on dullness. For example, a doctor giving a 'sober assessment' of a patient means she is calm and honest; a 'grave assessment' would suggest the patient is in serious danger; an 'earnest request for help' shows true sincerity.

serious ↗solemn ↗grave ↗earnest ↗sedate

Common collocations

Adverbs

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'sober' entered English through Old French 'sobre' (meaning moderate, temperate), which came from the Latin word 'sobrius' — a combination of 'se-' (meaning apart from) and 'ebrius' (meaning drunk). The original Latin sense was literally 'not drunk,' which remains the core meaning today. Over centuries, the word expanded from the alcohol-related sense to include the ideas of moderation, seriousness, and plainness that now form the other meanings.