Gloom
/ɡluːm/
Definitions
3 meaningsPartial or total darkness; a state of sadness or depression.
/ɡluːm/
A state of partial or total darkness.
The gloom of the forest made the hiker uneasy.
💡 Simply: Think of a dark and cloudy day when the sun isn't shining. That feeling of darkness and sadness is gloom. You might feel gloom when you're feeling down.
👶 For kids: Gloom is when it's dark and a little bit sad, like when the sun is hiding behind clouds.
More Examples
A pervasive gloom settled over the city after the news broke.
Despite the gloom, she found a spark of hope.
How It's Used
"The gloom of the storm created a sense of foreboding."
"The author masterfully used the gloom of the setting to reflect the characters' inner turmoil."
A feeling of unhappiness or sadness.
/ɡluːm/
A state of low spirits; a feeling of sadness or depression.
A sense of gloom permeated the room after the argument.
💡 Simply: Imagine a time when you felt really sad or down, like when your favorite toy broke. That sad feeling is also called gloom.
👶 For kids: Gloom is when you feel a little bit sad and like things aren't so happy.
More Examples
She struggled to shake off the gloom that had settled upon her.
The economic forecasts predicted a period of gloom for the industry.
How It's Used
"The patient's gloom was a significant factor in her diagnosis."
"After the bad news, a sense of gloom hung over the office."
To become dark or dim; to look or feel sad.
/ɡluːm/
To be or become dark, dim, or shadowy.
The approaching storm gloomed the sky.
💡 Simply: When it gets dark or shadowy, like when the lights go out, or if you're feeling a little sad, you can say things are 'glooming'.
👶 For kids: When things get dark and a little bit sad, we can say it's 'glooming'.
More Examples
Her face gloomed when she heard the bad news.
The future gloomed before them, filled with uncertainty.
How It's Used
"The shadows gloomed the valley."
"The forest began to gloom as night approached."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
gloom and doom
A situation filled with negative predictions and pessimism.
"The report painted a picture of gloom and doom for the economy."
From Middle English *gloum*, *glome* meaning 'frowning, sullenness,' of uncertain origin. Possibly related to Old English *glōmung* 'twilight'.
The word 'gloom' has been used since the Middle Ages to describe darkness and sadness, often in a literary context. Its usage has remained consistent over time.
Memory tip
Imagine a darkened room (gloom) where everything feels heavy and sad.