blackened
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Explanation
To be blackened means to become darkened or charred, often as a result of burning. It can also describe the appearance of blood gathering and spreading beneath the skin in a way that makes it appear darker. Charred vegetables on a grill can be described as blackened from the high heat. Similarly, a piece of toast that is forgotten in the toaster until it's nearly burnt is also blackened. This word can also describe surfaces that have been darkened by smoke or soot, such as the walls of a fireplace. Things can become blackened as a result of cooking, fire, or even age, giving objects a dark, charred appearance.
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.
He’d somehow scratched “SOS” into the blackened earth, a photo released by the Coast Guard shows.
From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026
Unverified social media videos showed plumes of smoke rising over Ryazan -- a city of around 500,000 -- and a high-rise apartment block with several blackened floors.
From Barron's • May 15, 2026
Their best-selling offering is an extra dark pretzel that’s slow-baked for a blackened finish.
From Salon • Apr. 28, 2026
Accompanying footage showed an aerial view of blackened earth dotted with trees.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2026
Above my head, a chalkboard sign lists today’s specials: roasted cream of tomato soup with house-made garlic croutons, blackened chili-lime salmon with rice and mango salsa, and double-chocolate lava mudslide with raspberry coulis for dessert.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
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.
