To recover from the effects of alcohol and return to a normal, clear-headed state.
To stop being drunk and go back to feeling normal.
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
To recover from the effects of alcohol and become clear-headed again.
"He drank several glasses of water and waited for the fresh air to sober him up."
Sober up and come home.
— The Rolling Stones, 'Sway', Sticky Fingers (1971)
To become more serious, realistic, or grounded after a period of excitement, optimism, or illusion.
"The company's falling profits quickly sobered up the new investors."
To become sober going upward to normality — fairly transparent.
To stop being drunk and go back to feeling normal.
Very common in everyday conversation. Can be used intransitively ('he needs to sober up') or transitively ('black coffee won't sober you up any faster'). Also used figuratively to mean becoming more serious or realistic.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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