sobering
|so-ber-ing|
🇺🇸
/ˈsoʊbərɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˈsəʊbərɪŋ/
(sober)
clear-headed
Etymology
'sober' (root of 'sobering') originates from Old French 'sobre', ultimately from Latin 'sobrius', where the root meant 'not drunk' or 'moderate'.
'sober' entered Middle English from Old French 'sobre' and later formed the derivative 'sobering' by adding the English verbal/adjectival suffix '-ing'.
Initially, it meant 'not drunk' (literal absence of intoxication), but over time it broadened to mean 'moderate, serious, restrained' and figuratively produced the modern sense of 'causing seriousness or realistic appraisal'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
present participle of 'sober'; acting to make someone sober (literal) or to make someone more clear-headed or realistic (figurative).
He is sobering after realizing the scale of the problem.
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Adjective 1
causing a person to become more serious, thoughtful, or realistic; making something seem less cheerful or more soberingly real.
The report was a sobering reminder of how fragile the ecosystem is.
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Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/31 22:52