darken
Americanverb (used with object)
-
darkens,
present (3rd person singular)
-
darkened,
past participle, past
-
darkening
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
darkens,
present (3rd person singular)
-
darkened,
past participle, past
-
darkening
present participle
-
to become dark or darker.
-
to become obscure.
-
to become less white or clear in color.
-
to grow clouded, as with gloom or anger.
-
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
-
(usually used with a negative) to visit someone
never darken my door again!
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
darkensimple
-
darkenssimple
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have darkenedperfect
-
has darkenedperfect
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am darkeningprogressive
-
are darkeningprogressive
-
is darkeningprogressive
-
have been darkeningperfect progressive
-
has been darkeningperfect progressive
Past
-
darkenedsimple
-
had darkenedperfect
-
was darkeningprogressive
-
were darkeningprogressive
-
had been darkeningperfect progressive
Future
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.
See Examples For:
It was the strangest kind of farewell; more sadness than satisfaction, more 'thanks for the memories' than 'never darken our door again'.
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
Scattered through old Southern community and church cookbooks are recipes for spiced Saltines: butter-soaked, herb-flecked, oven-baked until they darken to a toastier shade of gold.
From Salon ● Jul. 14, 2026
German firms viewed their current business situation more favorably, though their expectations for the coming months continued to darken, Ifo said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026
"Think of photochromic sunglasses. When you're inside, they're just clear lenses. You walk out into the sun, and they darken on their own. Come back inside, and the lenses become clear again," Nguyen continued.
From Science Daily ● May 15, 2026
Ross explained my project to him, and as Ross talked I could see Ed Green’s face darken.
From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright
Hundreds of kilometers away – in Denver and along the Canadian border – heavy ashfall darkens the sky, obstructs roads and disrupts power, water supplies and communications.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2026
During an eclipse, the sky darkens offering a short window to also see the Perseids at the same time.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
Include them and Americans’ average level of preparation for retirement darkens considerably.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026
Hally’s mood darkens as soon as he learns from Sam that his mother is bringing his dad home from the hospital.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 2026
The city darkens as I reach its border, a wide dirt clearing a few yards wide that separates Lkossa from the first of the Greater Jungle’s towering black pines.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
He stumbled out of bed in his underwear and down the hall to his darkened living room.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
Stars and planets can emerge in the darkened sky, temperatures can fall, and winds may strengthen.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 10, 2026
Armed with flashlights, dozens of community members stepped into the darkened Westlake Theatre, sidestepping puddles and broken glass as they imagined what the century-old movie palace could become.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
Higher interest rates and rising maintenance costs also darkened the picture.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
A froth of steam and fog boils along the darkened platform at Euston Station.
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
When he first noticed the sky darkening, Chapman thought a storm was coming.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
The specific phenomenon of darkening water, called “freshwater browning,” is driven by a few factors.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 21, 2026
Reduce the heat to low if the spices are darkening in color too quickly.
From Salon ● Jun. 7, 2026
The economists fractured over how the Fed will respond to the darkening outlook.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 2, 2026
The fire, fed with the bigger branches, burned brightly in the darkening air.
From "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt
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.
