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
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has darkenedperfect 3rd person singular
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have darkenedperfect
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darkenssingular 3rd person
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have been darkeningperfect progressive
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am darkeningprogressive 1st person singular
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darkeningparticiple
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are darkeningprogressive
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is darkeningprogressive 3rd person singular
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has been darkeningperfect progressive 3rd person singular
Past
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had darkenedperfect
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were darkeningprogressive plural
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darkenedparticiple
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was darkeningprogressive singular
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had been darkeningperfect progressive
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darkenedsimple
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.
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
"They also darken the layer by adding iron and carbon, making the regolith's properties more consistent with the observations."
From Science Daily • May 5, 2026
Their mood tends to darken considerably, leading them to be more likely to sell their stock holdings and less likely to buy.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 18, 2026
"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 • Feb. 27, 2026
Her resentment seemed to darken with the fading moon.
From "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" by Grace Lin
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.
