darkness
Americannoun
-
the state or quality of being dark.
The room was in total darkness.
-
absence or deficiency of light.
the darkness of night.
-
wickedness or evil.
Satan, the prince of darkness.
-
obscurity; concealment.
The darkness of the metaphor destroyed its effectiveness.
-
lack of knowledge or enlightenment.
heathen darkness.
-
lack of sight; blindness.
Other Word Forms
- predarkness noun
Etymology
Origin of darkness
First recorded before 1050; Middle English derknesse, Old English deorcnysse; equivalent to dark + -ness
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.
Even though Mom’s voice is unwavering, and despite the darkness cloaking the car, I sense her tension.
From Literature
“Hesterfowl! Why in the name of Deadwood Dump are you lurking in the darkness?”
From Literature
“It doesn’t matter what party governs,” a neighbor told her as they stood around on the sidewalk, escaping the darkness of their homes as the blackout stretched on.
From Los Angeles Times
"The stripes are absolutely distinct with complete darkness between them," Medvedev said.
From Science Daily
In the far north of the UK, particularly northern Scotland, there will be close to 19 hours of daylight, with twilight lingering well into the night and barely any true darkness.
From BBC
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.
