darken
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
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to become dark or darker.
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to become obscure.
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to become less white or clear in color.
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to grow clouded, as with gloom or anger.
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to become blind.
idioms
verb
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to make or become dark or darker
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to make or become gloomy, angry, or sad
his mood darkened
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(usually used with a negative) to visit someone
never darken my door again!
Other Word Forms
- darkener noun
- undarken verb (used with object)
- well-darkened adjective
Etymology
Origin of darken
First recorded in 1250–1300, darken is from the Middle English word derknen. See dark, -en 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Both managers will need the comfort of a darkened room to figure out how they could be so excellent in one half and so poor in another, Danny Rohl most of all.
From BBC
"It was a matter of arriving on location and seeing the sun go down to get into position to wait for the sky to darken."
From BBC
That evening in Washington, DC, a group gathered in a darkened room.
From Literature
A rocket blasts off from a launcher, shooting into the sky and illuminating the darkened valley below.
From BBC
Three others crowded into the darkened shack offering advice and helping spot blips on the screen.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
