Meaning & use
be sober
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Meanings
phraselinking
To not be under the influence of alcohol; to have not drunk alcohol.
Grammar: Describes a state: He is sober. Often used after drinking or at a party.
Patterns
- be sober
- stay sober
- remain sober
After three cups of coffee, he was finally sober enough to drive.
She has been sober for five years.
At the party, I stayed sober because I had to work early.
phraselinkingformal
To be serious, calm, and not joking.
Grammar: Describes a mood or manner: Her expression was sober.
Patterns
- be sober
- a sober expression
His face was sober as he listened to the bad news.
The judge was sober throughout the trial.
Common combinations
- be sober for
- He has been sober for ten years.
- stay sober
- It can be hard to stay sober at parties.
- perfectly sober
- I was perfectly sober when I made that decision.
Synonyms and how they differ
- clear-headed
- Focuses on mental clarity rather than just not being drunk; can be used when you are alert and thinking well.
- serious
- For the second meaning, 'serious' is more common in everyday speech; 'sober' sounds more formal or literary.
Opposites
Word family
- sobriety noun
- The state of being sober, especially not drinking alcohol.
- soberly adverb
- In a serious or calm way.
Commonly confused: be sober or somber?
be sober vs somber
Somber means dark, gloomy, or sad; sober means not drunk or serious. They sound similar but are different.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'be sober' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Be sober' means not having drunk alcohol. Option An is wrong because after three beers he would not be sober. Option C confuses 'sober' with 'somber' (gloomy).
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “be sober”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.