dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises; "a grave God-fearing man"; "a quiet sedate nature"; "as sober as a judge"; "a solemn promise"; "the judge was solemn as he pronounced sentence"
Used in a Sentence
solemn
How to use solemn in a sentence. Example sentences and definitions for solemn.
Editorial note
Don't you know it's your solemn duty to brainwash yourself so that others can get paid?
Examples9
Definitions2
Parts of speech1
Quick take
dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises; "a grave God-fearing man"; "a quiet sedate nature"; "as sober as a judge"; "a solemn promise"; "the judge was solemn as he pronounced sentence"
Meaning at a glance
The clearest senses and uses of solemn gathered in one view.
characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions; "both sides were deeply in earnest, even passionate"; "an entirely sincere and cruel tyrant"; "a film with a solemn social message"
Definitions
Core meanings and parts of speech for solemn.
adjective
dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises; "a grave God-fearing man"; "a quiet sedate nature"; "as sober as a judge"; "a solemn promise"; "the judge was solemn as he pronounced sentence"
adjective
characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions; "both sides were deeply in earnest, even passionate"; "an entirely sincere and cruel tyrant"; "a film with a solemn social message"
Example sentences
Don't you know it's your solemn duty to brainwash yourself so that others can get paid?
It's a sad day for aviation – the first fatalites of the 777's spotless record – and a much, much more solemn one for everyone onboard.
But if it were near-universal practice for new software engineers to swear a solemn oath not to use their powers for evil, who knows?
Oh absolutely, and I try to be as solemn as possible about it:"I used to be a web developer during the Browser Wars, man ...
The public mind seems impressed with the difficulties of English orthography, and there is a solemn conviction that the chief end of man is to learn to spell.
Each employee takes a solemn oath to support and \n defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, \n foreign and domestic.
But solemnity, it serves pomposity and the self-\n important always know, at some level of their consciousness, that their egotism\n is going to be punctured by humor.
"If a politician won't keep probably the most solemn vow they've ever made, to the person they were most committed to in their life"Not to stray from the point of the article, but the politician analogy is very appropriate.
Reading Plato's dialogue "Phaedrus" gives an answer near the end: Socrates apparently believed "that writing is unfortunately like painting; for the creations of the painter have the attitude of life, and yet if you ask them a question they preserve a solemn silence.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers drawn from the clearest meanings and examples for this word.
How do you use solemn in a sentence?
Don't you know it's your solemn duty to brainwash yourself so that others can get paid?
What does solemn mean?
dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises; "a grave God-fearing man"; "a quiet sedate nature"; "as sober as a judge"; "a solemn promise"; "the judge was solemn as he pronounced sentence"
What part of speech is solemn?
solemn is commonly used as adjective.