sober

/ˈsoʊbər/
verb
  1. To make or become serious and thoughtful, especially after being excited or foolish.
    • Her stern words sobered the children, and they stopped laughing.
    • The tragic news sobered the entire crowd.
    • Seeing the damage from the storm sobered him about the dangers of climate change.
  2. To make or become free from the effects of alcohol; to become sober.
    • It took him a few hours to sober completely after the wedding reception.
    • He drank a cup of strong coffee to try to sober up before the meeting.
    • A cold shower helped sober her after the long night.
adjective
  1. Not drunk; not affected by alcohol.
    • After the party, he made sure to stay sober so he could drive everyone home.
    • She had been sober for three years and was proud of her progress.
    • The police officer asked if he was sober before letting him get behind the wheel.
  2. Serious, thoughtful, and not overly emotional or excited.
    • He gave a sober assessment of the company's financial situation.
    • Her sober expression told me that something was wrong.
    • The news of the accident put everyone in a sober mood.
  3. Plain, simple, and not bright or showy in color or style.
    • He preferred sober colors like gray and navy for his work wardrobe.
    • The room was decorated in a sober, minimalist style.
    • She chose a sober dress for the formal ceremony.
What does "sober" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean