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Glite Dictionary
lowery

lowery

9.1
A cloudy dark sky that looks like it will rain
  • adjective
  • UK
translation icon : nublado
  • The children hurried home as the lowery sky signaled an approaching storm.

Examples

  • We decided to postpone our picnic because of the lowery weather.

  • A lowery afternoon made the park seem much quieter than usual.

  • The sky looks lowery today.

  • It was a lowery afternoon in London.

  • The children hurried home as the lowery sky signaled an approaching storm.

  • A lowery afternoon made the park seem much quieter than usual.

  • We decided to postpone our picnic because of the lowery weather.

Synonyms

rainy
vslowery
122 1.0

Having a lot of rain

focuses instead on the dark, threatening sky before rain starts
cloudy
vslowery
51 1.0

Sky covered with clouds so it is not sunny

adds a sense of darkness and a real chance of rain
drizzly
vslowery
5 1.5

Light, steady rain that makes the ground slightly wet

speaks of darker clouds and a stronger sense that rain will come
threatening
vslowery
3 3.7

Dark clouds in the sky that make rain or a storm seem likely

is similar but emphasizes an ominous look rather than actual rain
lowering
vslowery
6.8

Dark and threatening because of low clouds

is a broader word for cloudy, dark skies that suggest rain
loury
vslowery
  • Archaic
9.9

Dark cloudy weather or a sad heavy mood

is more about both darkness and a clear threat of rain
gla
vslowery
  • Slang
9.9

Dull cloudy weather that makes the sky look dark

is a neutral description stressing darkness and a rain threat
clouded
vslowery
2.1

A sky full of clouds that hides the sun

adds a darker, more threatening quality pointing to rain
bluggy day
vslowery
  • UK
9.9

A dull, wet day with mud and cloudy sky

is more about the dark sky predicting rain rather than muddy ground

Antonyms

clear
866 1.0

Free from things that block sight or movement

bright
459 1.0

Full of strong light that makes a place easy to see

How Threatening

ominous
96 6.4
lowery
  • UK
9.1
gloomy
16 2.3

Surface Forms

lowery positive

Morphology

lowery = lower (semi-transparent) = low + er + y

The word is built on a recognizable low/lower base, but the weather sense is somewhat specialized and not fully predictable for a learner.

Etymology

Lowery comes from the same idea behind low and lower: clouds that sit 'low' or are 'lowering' over the land. So a lowery sky looks dark and ready to rain.