sober
ˈsoʊ.bər
Definition Synonyms Conjugation

Definition of sober - Reverso English Dictionary

Adjective

1.
not drunknot affected by alcohol
  • He drove home completely sober after the party..
abstinent dry teetotal
2.
behaviorserious and thoughtful in character
  • His sober expression showed his concern.
grave serious solemn
3.
moderatenot given to excessive drinking or indulgence
  • She leads a sober lifestyle.
abstinent temperate
4.
appearancesubdued or plain in color or design
  • She chose a sober suit for the interview..
muted restrained

Verb

tr.
1.
sobrietycause to become free from the effects of alcohol
  • A cold shower sobered him up quickly..
cleanse detoxify purify
2.
intoxicationbecome not intoxicated
  • She needs to sober up before driving.
3.
clear thinkingmake someone serious, calm, or composed
  • The accident report sobered the laughing crowd.
4.
realismbecome more realistic
  • The news helped him sober up about his plans.
sober up
Add a suggestion |

Expressions with sober

💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
become sober after drinking alcohol
He needs to sober up before driving.
not intoxicated by alcohol or drugs
He was cold sober at the party.
completely sober without any alcohol
After the party, he was still sober as a judge.
completely free from alcohol or drugs
After the party, he was stone-cold sober and drove everyone home safely.
rational consideration of a situation or decision
He approached the problem with sober thought.
place where people live while recovering from addiction
He moved into a sober living house after rehab.

Origin of sober

Latin, sobrius (not drunk)

Terms with sober included in their meaning

💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
sober driver
person who stays sober to drive others home
sobriety
state of being sober, not intoxicated
support
person who helps others stay sober
sober
free from addiction or dependency
historical movement
supporter of a nineteenth-century temperance group helping others remain sober
douceadj.
subdued style
sober or sedate in appearance
FSTacr.
acr: field sobriety test
tests to check if someone is sober
SLHacr.
acr: sober living house
home for people recovering from addiction

Examples of sober in a sentence

  • It's important to stay sober when driving.
  • Her sober demeanor made everyone listen attentively.
  • The meeting was conducted in a sober atmosphere.
  • He remained sober despite the party's temptations.
  • Her sober habits were admired by her peers.
  • The room was decorated in sober tones.

View all translations of sober

Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
  1. French:sobre, dégriser, ...
  2. German:nüchtern, entnüchtern, ...
  3. Italian:sobrio, disintossicare, ...
  4. Spanish:sobrio, despejar, ...
  5. Portuguese:sóbrio, desintoxicar, ...
  6. Chinese:清醒的, 清醒, ...
  7. Japanese:酔っていない, 酔いを覚ます, ...
  8. Arabic:صاحٍ, أَفَاقَ, ...
  9. Hebrew:פִּיכַּח, לְהִתְפַּכֵּחַ, ...
  10. Russian:трезвый, протрезветь, ...
  11. Ukrainian:тверезий, протверезити, ...
  12. Hindi:होश में, शराब मुक्त करना, ...
Browse the dictionary entries starting with “s”:

Discover how Reverso redefines the dictionary

Go beyond “simple words”

Get more than a simple definition

Go from understanding to mastery