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.
"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
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
As the skies over Switzerland darken with the usual billionaires’ jets, the old Davos agenda is falling by the wayside.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 19, 2026
He shows us where to darken the path of the river on our maps.
From "Muffled" by Jennifer Gennari
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.
