darken

verb

dark·​en ˈdär-kən How to pronounce darken (audio)
darkened; darkening ˈdär-kə-niŋ How to pronounce darken (audio)
Synonyms of darkennext

intransitive verb

1
: to grow dark : become obscured
the skies were darkening
2
: to become gloomy
his mood darkened

transitive verb

1
: to make dark
2
: to make less clear : obscure
the financial crisis darkened the future of the company
3
: taint, tarnish
darkened his reputation
4
: to cast a gloom over
5
: to make of darker color
darkener
ˈdär-kə-nər How to pronounce darken (audio)
noun

Synonyms

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of darken in a Sentence

The sky darkened and it started to rain. Her face darkens to a deep red when she gets angry. The wood will darken as it ages. The bad news darkened his mood.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Pigments darken the lashes, while oils and waxes help thicken them and give your lashes a boost of volume. — Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2025 Apparently, the concert’s pyrotechnics, located directly underneath the banners, literally darkened the legacy of the team in a way the stories of Michael Jordan’s gambling and Dennis Rodman’s smelliness never could. — Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025 Early Friday morning, a red moon will darken over Chicago skies. — Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025 Their perfect alignment darkens the moon, from the perspective of folks looking up, because our planet's position blocks most sunlight from reaching it. — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for darken

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of darken was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing darken

Rhymes for darken

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Browse Nearby Words

darken
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Cite this Entry

“Darken.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/darken. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

darken

verb
dark·​en ˈdär-kən How to pronounce darken (audio)
darkened; darkening ˈdärk-(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce darken (audio)
1
: to make or grow dark or darker
the sky darkened
2
: to make or become gloomy or forbidding
her face darkened in anger
darkener
ˈdärk-(ə-)nər How to pronounce darken (audio)
noun

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