Bleak
/bliːk/
adjectiveBeginnerCommonGeneral
Meaning
Question
Definitions
1
Cold, dreary, and without hope.
/bliːk/
adjectivenegativeBeginner
General
Desolate and depressing
The weather was bleak and miserable.
💡 Simply: Sad and without hope.
More Examples
2
The outlook for the economy is bleak.
How It's Used
Literary
"The bleak landscape offered little hope of survival."
Descriptive
"The future looked bleak after the company's collapse."
From Old English *blǣc, meaning 'pale, white'. It evolved to describe a desolate or cheerless landscape, then broadened to encompass feelings.
The word's association with cold and desolate landscapes has been consistent throughout its history, though its emotional connotations have broadened.
Memory tip
Think of a bleak winter day – cold, gray, and depressing.
Practice
bleakebleek
Usage
30%Spoken
70%Written