gloom
gloom — noun
1. the sad feeling that comes when you think a situation is bad and will not get be
the sad feeling that comes when you think a situation is bad and will not get better
A deep gloom settled over the family after the funeral.
collocation: gloom settled over [someone/something]
The team's third straight loss filled the players with gloom.
collocation: filled with gloom
Economic reports have cast a cloud of gloom over small business owners.
Noor tried to shake off the gloom that had followed her all morning.
Despite the gloomy news, Bao refused to let gloom take over his outlook.
- sorrow
sadder and more personal, often tied to a specific loss
- despair
stronger; a complete loss of hope
- melancholy
gentler and more reflective; implies thoughtful sadness
文法句型
gloom + verb (settle over, fill, lift)
用法筆記
Usually uncountable. Often paired with verbs describing how gloom affects a person or group: 'settle over', 'fill', 'cast', 'shake off'.
常見錯誤
2. a lack of light that makes it difficult to see things around you
a lack of light that makes it difficult to see things around you
Eric could barely make out the path ahead in the gathering gloom of the forest.
collocation: gathering gloom
The streetlights were off, leaving the neighbourhood in total gloom.
collocation: total gloom
Otis switched on a lamp to push back the gloom of the basement room.
The old castle stood wrapped in gloom even at midday.
A single candle flame flickered against the gloom of the cave.
- light
brightness that allows clear vision
- brightness
a strong, clear light
文法句型
in the gloom
through the gloom
用法筆記
Usually uncountable. Often used with prepositions such as 'in', 'through', 'against'. More literary than the plain word 'darkness' — it suggests a heavy, almost emotional quality to the lack of light.
gloom — verb
1. to appear or move in a way that shows you are sad and without hope
to appear or move in a way that shows you are sad and without hope
After losing his job, Jason spent weeks glooming around the house.
gloom + around (place)
The old man gloomed in his armchair, refusing to speak to anyone.
When the trip was cancelled, the children gloomed about the living room.
Sumin gloomed in the corner of the cafe, staring into an untouched coffee.
文法句型
gloom + adverb (around, about)
用法筆記
Intransitive and informal. Often used with 'around' or 'about' to show aimless, unhappy movement.
2. to become overcast or dark, usually referring to the sky or weather
to become overcast or dark, usually referring to the sky or weather
The sky gloomed over as the storm clouds rolled in.
gloom + over (sky)
By late afternoon the heavens had gloomed, threatening rain.
Mira watched the horizon gloom over as the typhoon approached the coast.
The whole valley gloomed under a thick blanket of winter fog.
- darken
more common and neutral; can describe any loss of light
- cloud over
specifically about the sky filling with clouds
文法句型
gloom + over
用法筆記
Intransitive; frequently used with the particle 'over'. Describes the weather darkening, not an emotional state.
3. to appear dimly or indistinctly, as if seen through darkness or mist
to appear dimly or indistinctly, as if seen through darkness or mist
Through the fog, the shape of a ship gloomed on the horizon.
gloom + on [place]
A dark figure gloomed out of the misty forest path.
gloom + out of [place]
An old lighthouse gloomed through the sea spray on the rocky shore.
The ruins of the temple gloomed against the fading evening sky.
文法句型
gloom + out of [place]
gloom + on [place]
用法筆記
Literary and rare. Suggests that something appears slowly, vaguely, and often threateningly.
4. to make something dark, dim, or somber in appearance
to make something dark, dim, or somber in appearance
Thick curtains gloomed the room, blocking out every ray of sunlight.
transitive use: gloom + object
The painter's heavy brush strokes gloomed the scene with deep blue tones.
A row of tall pine trees gloomed the garden even at noon.
The grey stone walls gloomed the narrow alley where the sun never reached.
文法句型
gloom + object
用法筆記
Transitive and literary. Very rare in everyday English; 'darken' or 'shade' are far more common for this meaning.