solemn
Syllables: sol·emnUK/ˈsɒləm//ˈsɑləm/
solemn adjective: of or pertaining to religious ceremonies and rites; (generally) religious in nature; sacred.
Adjective
solemn (comparative solemner or more solemn, superlative solemnest or most solemn)
- Of or pertaining to religious ceremonies and rites; (generally) religious in nature; sacred.
- Characterized by or performed with appropriate or great ceremony or formality.
- Whereas the accentuated linearism, the angular stylization of the folds, the rhythmical course of the outlining and the solemn frontality conjoined with an air of regality in the pose seem to recall the formal repertory of the Corbolinus Master and his group […]1993, Miklós Boskovits, The Origins of Florentine Painting, 1100-1270, volume 1, page 33
- Deeply serious and sombre; grave.
- Synonyms:
- austere, frightful, demure, serious, grave, earnest, grievous, lack-laughter, thoughtful, sad
- Antonyms:
- lighthearted, unserious
- Inspiring serious feelings or thoughts; sombrely impressive.
- Synonyms:
- awe-inspiring
- Cheerless, gloomy, sombre.
- Synonyms:
- cheerless, comfortless, bleak, dark, morose, depressing, desolate, dire, disconsolate, dismal
- Antonyms:
- cheerful, air-headed, blissed out, blissful, enrapt, rapt, cock-a-hoop, delighted, ecstatic, elated
solemn meaning in Hindi, Tamil, Urdu and Bengali
solemn in Hindi
- solemn
- संजीदा sañjīdā
solemn in Tamil
- உள்ளார்ந்த, அகனமர்ந்த, பெருமிதமான, முறைமை வழாத, வீறார்ந்த
solemn in Urdu
- متین, سنجیدہ
solemn in Bengali
- গম্ভীর, মর্যাদাপূর্ণ, পবিত্র
More languagesFewer languages
- solemn in Malayalam
- ശാന്തഗംഭീരമായ, ഗൗരവസ്വഭാവമുള്ള, ദൈവതിരുമുമ്പിൽ പ്രതിജ്ഞയെടുക്കുന്ന, ഉദാത്തമായ
- solemn in Kannada
- ಗಂಭೀರವಾದ, ಮಹತ್ವಪೂರ್ಣ, ಭಯಭಕ್ತಿ ಹುಟ್ಟಿಸುವ, ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರೋಕ್ತ
Examples of solemn in a sentence
- His rumbling voice suited the solemn occasion.
- So, this term I have made a solemn vow to do better.
- Superman bashed Bavarians and kiboshed Krauts with a mix of solemn consecration, righteous anger and cathartic glee.
Synonyms of solemn
30 more synonymsFewer synonyms
Antonyms
10 more antonymsFewer antonyms
Forms of solemn
| comparative | solemner |
|---|---|
| comparative | more solemn |
| superlative | solemnest |
| superlative | most solemn |
Origin of solemn
From Middle English solempne, solemne (“performed with religious ceremony or reverence; devoted to religious observances, sacred; ceremonious, formal; of a vow: made under a religious sanction, binding; religious celebration, celebration of a feast day; famous, well-known; important; grand, imposing; awe-inspiring, impressive; grave, serious; dignified; enunciated or held formally”) [and other forms], from Old French solempne, solemne (“serious, solemn”) [and other forms], or from its etymon Late Latin sōlempnis, sōlennis, from Latin sōlemnis, from sollemnis (“appointed, established, fixed; common, customary, ordinary, ritual, traditional, usual; ceremonial, religious, solemn; festive; annual, yearly”) [and other forms]. The further etymology is uncertain; sollus (“entire, whole”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *solh₂- (“whole”)) + epulum (“banquet, feast”) (in the sense of a ritual; perhaps ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁ed- (“to eat”)) has been suggested.
Words formed from solemn
- lodge solemn representation
- oversolemn
- semisolemn
- solemncholy
- solemnify
- solemniously
- solemnly
- solemn mass
- solemnness
- solemnsides
- solemn vow
- supersolemn
- ultrasolemn
- unsolemn
Phrases with solemn
Words that rhyme with solemn
Questions about solemn
- What does solemn mean?
- Solemn means of or pertaining to religious ceremonies and rites; (generally) religious in nature; sacred.
- What is solemn in Hindi?
- Solemn in Hindi is संजीदा (sañjīdā). See Solemn meaning in Hindi.
- What part of speech is solemn?
- Solemn is an adjective.
- How do you pronounce solemn?
- Solemn is pronounced /ˈsɒləm/ (UK).
Words near solemn in the dictionary
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: solemn (page history and authors); संजीदा (Hindi) (page history and authors); solemn (Tamil Wiktionary) (page history and authors); solemn (Urdu Wiktionary) (page history and authors); solemn (Bengali Wiktionary) (page history and authors); solemn (Malayalam Wiktionary) (page history and authors); solemn (Kannada Wiktionary) (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
Last updated:
Pronunciation audio from Wikimedia Commons, each file under its own free license: En-us-solemn.ogg.
Cite this entry: “solemn.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/solemn. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.