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.
Earlier this week, an incinerated roe deer was seen lying on the blackened ground.
From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026
A crew of men with blackened faces wearing steel hats with flashlights attached stands in the dark “Anthracite Coal Mine Near Pottsville, Pennsylvania,” photographed by Jack Delano in 1938.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
They were there when the devastating Santa Barbara oil spill blackened beaches, turned the shoreline into a wildlife graveyard, and galvanized grassroots defense of the coast.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2026
The affected dormitory had shattered windows, blackened walls and a crumpled corrugated iron roof, an AFP journalist saw.
From Barron's ● May 28, 2026
“My hands might be dirty,” Dad had said, winking at me and displaying his blackened fingernails.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
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.
