darken

[dahr-kuhn]

verb (used with object)

1. to make dark or darker.

2. to make obscure.

3. to make less white or clear in color.

4. to make gloomy; sadden.

   He darkened the festivities by his presence.

   Synonyms: deject, blacken, dispirit, depress

5. to make blind.

verb (used without object)

1. to become dark or darker.

2. to become obscure.

3. to become less white or clear in color.

4. to grow clouded, as with gloom or anger.

5. to become blind.

darken

/ ˈdɑːkən /

verb

1. to make or become dark or darker

2. to make or become gloomy, angry, or sad

   his mood darkened

3. (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

Word History and Origins

Origin of darken¹

First recorded in 1250–1300, darken is from the Middle English word derknen. See dark, -en ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. darken someone's door, to come to visit; make an appearance.

   Never darken my door again!

Example Sentences

The bright sky darkens as if the color is being sucked up by the world’s largest vacuum.

Read more on Literature

As Dollar Magazine proclaimed, “Expectation darkened into anxiety—anxiety into dread.”

Read more on Literature

A cooling job market is darkening that outlook.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Then the teams began training for their mission, practicing to make sure they knew where they needed to go inside the darkened building.

Read more on Literature

The mood among consumers darkened in November as the government shutdown dragged on, according to a new survey released Friday.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• blacken 
• dim 
• eclipse 
• obscure 
• overshadow