adj. 1
Deeply serious and sombre; grave.
adj. 2
Cheerless, gloomy, sombre.
adj. 3
Of or pertaining to religious ceremonies and rites; (generally) religious in nature; sacred.

Related words

Word family: solemncholy solemnly solemnization solemnize solemnity

Choose the right word

Solemn, Exalted, Grand, Imposing, Majestic or Noble?

We speak of an exalted station, a grand mountain, an imposing presence, a majestic cathedral, a noble mien, a solemn litany, a stately march, an august assembly, the awful scene of the Judgment Day.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

serious Loss of health is more serious than loss of money.
grave "This grave is your new home." "What do you mean?"
sober Tom could've been intoxicated, but he acted sober.
earnest He said in earnest that he would quit the company.
somber We heard somber hollow sounds from the cave.
funereal The whistling of the wind through the rigging sounded like funereal wailings.

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
solemn		steady
serious		steady
grave		steady
sober		rising
earnest		steady
somber		rising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters: dark¹, dull¹, grim¹, glum¹
5 letters: grand¹, grave¹, sober², stern¹, bleak¹, staid¹
6 letters: august², formal², sacred², ritual³, gloomy², devout², dreary², somber², sedate², sombre, demure², morose²
7 letters: serious³, sincere², earnest², stately², austere², weighty²
8 letters: imposing³, majestic³, grievous², funereal
9 letters: religious³, dignified³, venerable⁴
10 letters: impressive³, thoughtful², ceremonial⁵, devotional⁴, weightsome
11 letters: reverential⁴

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (sober² = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français: solennel
Italiano: solenne
Español: solemne
Català: solemne