solemn
Very serious and not smiling.
solemn in a sentence
- The whole school fell silent during the solemn remembrance assembly.
- Before their long journey, the knights made a solemn promise, heads bowed and faces serious.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to solemn?
- Aserious
- Bcheerful
- Cplayful
- Djolly
Show the answer
A: serious. The other three mean the opposite of solemn.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to solemn?
- Aserious
- Bgrave
- Ccheerful
- Dsombre
Show the answer
C: cheerful. The other three mean nearly the same as solemn.
Words that mean something similar
serious, grave, sombre
Words that mean the opposite
cheerful, jolly, playful
More words about emotions & feelings
- soothe: To make someone feel calmer or to make pain gentler.
- spellbound: So amazed or interested that you cannot look away.
- subdued: Quieter and less lively than usual.
- sullen: Silent and bad-tempered, refusing to be cheerful.
- tantalise: To tease someone by showing them something they want but cannot have.
- temptation: A strong wish to do something, especially something you know you shouldn't.
- tender: Gentle, loving and soft.
- torment: To cause a person or animal great suffering or annoyance, often again and again.
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