shad·ow
ˈsha-(ˌ)dō 
1
: the dark figure cast upon a surface by a body intercepting the rays from a source of light
2
: partial darkness or obscurity within a part of space from which rays from a source of light are cut off by an interposed opaque body
3
: a small degree or portion : trace
4
: an attenuated form or a vestigial remnant
5
a
: an inseparable companion or follower
b
: one (such as a spy or detective) who shadows someone
6
a
: an area near an object : vicinity
b
: pervasive and dominant influence
7
: a shaded or darker portion of a picture
8
: a reflected image
9
: shelter from danger or observation
10
a
: an imperfect and faint representation
b
: an imitation of something : copy
11
: phantom
12
13
: a source of gloom or unhappiness
14
: a state of ignominy or obscurity
shadowed; shadowing; shadows
1
: to cast a shadow upon : cloud
2
a
: to follow especially secretly : trail
b
: to accompany and observe especially in a professional setting
3
: to represent or indicate obscurely or faintly
—often used with forth or out
5
archaic
: shade sense 5
6
obsolete
: to shelter from the sun
7
obsolete
: conceal
1
: to pass gradually or by degrees
2
: to become overcast with or as if with shadows
1
: of, relating to, or resembling a shadow cabinet
shadow minister of defense
2
a
: having an indistinct pattern
shadow plaid
b
: having darker sections of design
shadow lace
Synonyms
Examples of shadow in a Sentence
Noun
The tree cast a long shadow across the lawn.
You can see your own shadow on a sunny day.
Part of the valley was in shadow.
He saw something moving in the shadows.
I sensed a shadow of disappointment in his expression.
Verb
Police shadowed the suspect for several days.
She spent the night shadowing other waiters at the restaurant.
Recent Examples on the Web
Joe Arterburn, Outdoor Life, 14 Nov. 2024
Then blitz a weakside linebacker who is lurking in the shadows.
—Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2024
Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024
To prepare for the role, Magaro immersed himself in broadcast journalism, shadowing professionals in real control rooms, including those at Madison Square Garden.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 29 Oct. 2024
Lisa Stardust, Glamour, 3 June 2022
The sooner, the better, as this transit has a pre-shadow period starting before the retrograde itself hits.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Nov. 2021
See all Example Sentences for shadow 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Play the Sun In a perfect scenario, your decoys will be in the sun (so ducks can see them well) and your hide will be in the shadows.
—Joe Arterburn, Outdoor Life, 14 Nov. 2024
Then blitz a weakside linebacker who is lurking in the shadows.
—Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
But in the months and days leading up to the final ballots being cast and results counted, USA TODAY reporters fanned out across the country – road tripping to key counties like Erie in Pennsylvania and shadowing election workers in Georgia and North Carolina.
—Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024
To prepare for the role, Magaro immersed himself in broadcast journalism, shadowing professionals in real control rooms, including those at Madison Square Garden.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 29 Oct. 2024
Adjective
The pre-shadow phase of the retrograde starts in motion the things that will affect us during the retrograde, so this is when the drama first manifests.
—Lisa Stardust, Glamour, 3 June 2022
The sooner, the better, as this transit has a pre-shadow period starting before the retrograde itself hits.
—Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Nov. 2021
See all Example Sentences for shadow
Dictionary Entries Near shadow
Cite this Entry
“Shadow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shadow. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shadow
1 of 2 noun
shad·ow
ˈshad-ō
1
: shade within certain bounds
the valley was in shadow
2
: a reflected image (as in a mirror)
3
: shelter from danger or view
4
a
: an imperfect and faint representation
b
: an imitation of something
5
: the dark figure cast on a surface by a body that is between the surface and the light
my shadow stays with me
6
7
plural
: darkness caused by the setting of the sun
twilight shadows
8
: a shaded part of a picture
10
a
: an inseparable companion or follower
b
: a person who shadows as a spy or detective
11
: a very little bit : trace
not a shadow of a doubt
12
: a source of gloom or unhappiness
Medical Definition
shadow
1 of 2 noun
shad·ow
ˈshad-(ˌ)ō, -ə(-w)
1
a
: partial darkness or obscurity within a part of space from which rays from a source of light are cut off by an interposed opaque body
b
: a dark outline or image on an X-ray photograph where the X-rays have been blocked by a radiopaque mass (as a tumor)
2
: a colorless or slightly pigmented or stained body (as a degenerate cell or empty membrane) only faintly visible under the microscope
shadow
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to perform shadow-casting on
freeze-dried and shadowed myosin molecules
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