Words / A2

GLOOM-ee/ˈɡluːmi/

Gloomy means dark or cheerless: a gloomy room, gloomy weather, feel gloomy. Sad is the simple feeling word; gloomy often includes the look of a place. Cheerful is a useful opposite. Cloudy is only about clouds. Do not use gloomy for “a little tired” — that is tired.

Meaning

Dark, or making you feel sad.

Examples

• “It was a gloomy afternoon, and she felt homesick.”
• “The hostel lounge was gloomy until someone turned the heater on.”
• “He felt gloomy after a week of foggy mornings.”

Good to know

a gloomy room / feel gloomy. Opposite: cheerful. Contrast: sad (feeling only), cloudy (sky).

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