sober
Serious and calm, not silly or playful.
sober in a sentence
- The mood at the meeting was sober after the bad news.
- The judge wore a sober black gown.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to sober?
- Afrivolous
- Bplayful
- Cjolly
- Dserious
Show the answer
D: serious. The other three mean the opposite of sober.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to sober?
- Asolemn
- Bfrivolous
- Cgrave
- Dserious
Show the answer
B: frivolous. The other three mean nearly the same as sober.
Words that mean something similar
serious, solemn, grave
Words that mean the opposite
frivolous, jolly, playful
More words about character & personality
- sprightly: Lively and full of energy, especially for someone old.
- staunch: Very loyal and firm in your support.
- steadfast: Staying firm and not giving up, no matter what happens.
- stern: Strict and serious, expecting to be obeyed.
- stubborn: Refusing to change your mind, even when you might be wrong.
- tenacious: Holding on and refusing to give up.
- tentative: Careful and unsure, as if not quite confident yet.
- testy: Quick to become cross and impatient, especially when bothered.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test