drab

1 of 5

noun (1)

drab

2 of 5

verb

drabbed; drabbing

intransitive verb

: to associate with prostitutes
a waster, an idler; drinking and drabbingAldous Huxley

drab

3 of 5

noun (2)

1
textiles : any of various cloths of a dull brown or gray color
dressed in drabs
2
a
: a light olive brown
b
: a dull, lifeless, or faded appearance or quality

drab

4 of 5

adjective

drabber; drabbest
1
a
: of the dull brown color of drab (see drab entry 3 sense 1)
b
: of a light olive brown color : of the color drab (see drab entry 3 sense 2a)
2
: characterized by dullness and monotony : cheerless
a drab life
drab industrial buildings
drably adverb
drabness noun

drab

5 of 5

noun (3)

: a small amount
usually used in the phrase dribs and drabs
receiving donations in dribs and drabs

Examples of drab in a Sentence

Adjective He lives a drab life. the new city hall promises to be another drab pile of masonry for the town
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
An incompetent spy from drab, dismal Graylandia, thwarts the his country ’s plans to invade the vibrant, if chaotic neighboring Colorlandia. John Hopewell, Variety, 3 Mar. 2024 This prelude to their big kiss is meant to hook Part 1 into Part 2, but there’s no compelling romance, mission, or fascination that connects these characters to the dark, drab homeland. Armond White, National Review, 1 Mar. 2024 The worlds envisaged by LucasArts in 1995 still seem bleak, drab, grey, and lacking decent architects. Matt Gardner, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Agnes spends the series sheathed in a drab, severe outfit that effaces her as a person, couture from the House of Orwell. James Poniewozik, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024 This gem transforms your wardrobe from drab to fab in a flash. Anna Smoot, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2024 Despite the city’s drab, gray skies, 40th anniversary celebrations didn’t end with Marc Jacobs’ viral New York show. India Espy-Jones, Essence, 21 Feb. 2024 To him, the spot — in the drab parking lot of a sprawling home improvement superstore, its facade plastered in lurid orange — is not exactly a place where history comes alive. Rory Smith, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2024 Moscow is a drab mausoleum in an economic backwater that is ruled by a dictator. Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review, 13 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'drab.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

origin unknown

Verb

noun derivative of drab entry 1

Noun (2) and Adjective

Middle French drap cloth, from Late Latin drappus

Noun (3)

probably alteration of drib

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1515, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1599, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1541, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (3)

1809, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of drab was circa 1515

Dictionary Entries Near drab

Cite this Entry

“Drab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drab. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

drab

1 of 2 noun
: a light olive brown

drab

2 of 2 adjective
drabber; drabbest
1
: of the color drab
2
: lacking variety and interest : dull
a drab life
drably adverb
drabness noun

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