sober

Universal Words adjective, verb adjective 1 [notusuallybeforenoun] not drunk (= not affected by alcohol): I promised him that I'd stay sober tonight. * He was as sober as a judge (= completely sober). 2 (of people and their behaviour) serious and sensible: a sober assessment of the situation * He is honest, sober and hard-working. * On sober reflection (= after some serious thought), I don't think I really need a car after all. 3 (of colours or clothes) plain and not bright: a sober grey suit soberly adverb: He was soberly dressed. IDIOMS see STONECOLD verb to make sb behave or think in a more serious and sensible way; to become more serious and sensible: [VN] The bad news sobered us for a while. * [V] He suddenly sobered. PHRASALVERBS sober up