Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Sober; solemn; sad.
  • In a sober manner, or with a sober appearance, in any sense of the word sober.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adverb In a sober manner; temperately; cooly; calmly; gravely; seriously.
  • adjective obsolete Grave; serious; solemn; sad.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adverb in a sober manner

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb in a grave and sober manner

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Therefore, little Amelia went to school during the spring term soberly clad as ever, and even on the festive last day wore nothing better than a new blue gingham, made too long, to allow for shrinkage, and new blue hair-ribbons.

    The Copy-Cat, & Other Stories 1910

  • I cannot say how many people were killed but I think the word soberly is worth noting.

    The Guardian World News Henry Porter 2010

  • Perhaps if the hassles and stressors occurred at the beginning of wedlock instead of the end, people might enter into it more soberly, that is, with more caution and understanding that it is a legal agreement not unlike that of a business partnership.

    The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com Susan Pease Gadoua 2011

  • But, on the other hand, we should think soberly, that is, we must have a low and modest opinion of ourselves and our own abilities, our gifts and graces, according to what we have received from God, and not otherwise.

    Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume VI (Acts to Revelation) 1721

  • Here the moviegoer sticks sourly and soberly in his or her demographic bracket, and the films of writer-directors Nora Ephron and Nancy Meyers are dismissed as “chick flicks.”

    Double-X Films 2009

  • Here the moviegoer sticks sourly and soberly in his or her demographic bracket, and the films of writer-directors Nora Ephron and Nancy Meyers are dismissed as “chick flicks.”

    Double-X Films 2009

  • “All right,” Eir said soberly, “maybe there are no warriors here.”

    GuildWars Edge of Destiny J. Robert King 2011

  • The day after Hoffman and his group disrupted the Stock Exchange, the New York Times soberly reported the occurrence:

    Chris Weigant: Wall Street Protest, Circa 1967 Chris Weigant 2011

  • '' It's the only answer for me to secure our way of life right now, '' he said soberly, noting that the 21st century GI bill means that he can pass college benefits along to his 18-year-old son.

    Sunday Reading 2009

  • But that, alas, is material for a historical novel, not a sober history, and Ms. Foot sticks soberly to what is known, or at least what we think we know.

    England in the Age of Vikings 2011

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