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Drably: meaning, definitions and examples

๐ŸŒซ๏ธ
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drably

 

[ หˆdrรฆbli ]

Adverb
Context #1 | Adverb

manner of appearance

Drably describes something that is lacking brightness, cheerfulness, or liveliness. It suggests a muted or dull quality in presentation, whether referring to colors, clothing, or overall aesthetics. When something is said to be done drably, it conveys a sense of unexciting or monotonous execution that may lead to a feeling of dreariness.

Synonyms

bleakly, drily, dully, grimly

Examples of usage

  • She dressed drably for the event.
  • The room was decorated drably, with gray walls and minimal decor.
  • He spoke drably, failing to engage his audience.
  • The weather was drably gray all week, making everyone feel down.
  • Their drably designed flyer went unnoticed among the colorful ads.

Translations

Translations of the word "drably" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น monรณtono

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฌเฅ‹เคฐเคฟเค‚เค—

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช trist

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ suram

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฟะพั…ะผัƒั€ะพ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ ponuro

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅœฐๅ‘ณใซ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท terne

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ soso

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท sฤฑkฤฑcฤฑ

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์น™์น™ํ•œ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ูƒุฆูŠุจ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ nudnรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ nudnรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆฒ‰้—ทๅœฐ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ siv

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ daufur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฑะพะท

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ›แƒฎแƒ˜แƒแƒ แƒฃแƒšแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ boลŸ

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ soso

Etymology

The word 'drably' has its roots in the adjective 'drab', which emerged in the late 16th century, originally referring to a kind of cloth with dull colors. The term 'drab' is believed to have originated from the Middle English word 'drabbe', which described a sort of dirty or piglike color. Over time, the meaning evolved to signify anything characterized by a lack of brightness, interest, or liveliness. The adverbial form 'drably' developed later, reflecting the attributes of its adjective counterpart. This transition highlights the cultural shift in language where descriptors adapted from physical appearances have come to symbolize emotional states and atmospheres, allowing the word to be applied in a broader sense to expressions of life, fashion, and environment.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #41,591, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.