shadow

American  

[shad-oh] / ˈʃæd oʊ /

noun

• shadows
  plural

1. a dark figure or image cast on the ground or some surface by a body intercepting light.

2. shade or comparative darkness, as in an area.

3. shadows, darkness, especially that coming after sunset.

4. shelter; protection.

   sanctuary in the shadow of the church.

5. a slight suggestion; trace.

   beyond the shadow of a doubt.

6. a specter or ghost.

   pursued by shadows.

7. a hint or faint, indistinct image or idea; intimation.

   shadows of things to come.

8. a mere semblance.

   the shadow of power.

9. a reflected image.

10. (in painting, drawing, graphics, etc.)

    1. the representation of the absence of light on a form.

    2. the dark part of a picture, especially as representing the absence of illumination.

       Rembrandt's figures often emerge gradually from the shadows.

11. (in architectural shades and shadows) a dark figure or image cast by an object or part of an object upon a surface that would otherwise be illuminated by the theoretical light source.

12. a period or instance of gloom, unhappiness, mistrust, doubt, dissension, or the like, as in friendship or one's life.

    Their relationship was not without shadows.

13. a dominant or pervasive threat, influence, or atmosphere, especially one causing gloom, fear, doubt, or the like.

    They lived under the shadow of war.

14. an inseparable companion.

    The dog was his shadow.

15. a person who follows another in order to keep watch upon that person, as a spy or detective.

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verb (used with object)

• shadows,
  present (3rd person singular)
• shadowed,
  past participle,  past
• shadowing
  present participle

1. to overspread with shadow; shade.

2. to cast a gloom over; cloud.

   The incident shadowed their meeting.

3. to screen or protect from light, heat, etc.; shade.

4. to follow and observe (a person): All new employees will be assigned a mentor whom they will shadow during their first week at work.

   Spies and secret agents shadowed government officials in clandestine assignments during the Cold War.

   All new employees will be assigned a mentor whom they will shadow during their first week at work.

5. to represent faintly, prophetically, etc. (often followed byforth ).

6. Archaic. to shelter or protect.

7. Archaic. to shade in painting, drawing, etc.

adjective

1. of or relating to a shadow cabinet.

2. without official authority.

   a shadow government.

3. unofficial or without public notice; characterized by secrecy or performed in a way that is difficult to detect; clandestine: shadow docket;

   shadow ban;

   shadow docket;

   shadow inflation.

shadow British  

/ ˈʃædəʊ /

noun

1. a dark image or shape cast on a surface by the interception of light rays by an opaque body

2. an area of relative darkness

3. the dark portions of a picture

4. a hint, image, or faint semblance

   beyond a shadow of a doubt

5. a remnant or vestige

   a shadow of one's past self

6. a reflection

7. a threatening influence; blight

   a shadow over one's happiness

8. a spectre

9. an inseparable companion

10. a person who trails another in secret, such as a detective

11. med a dark area on an X-ray film representing an opaque structure or part

12. (in Jungian psychology) the archetype that represents man's animal ancestors

13. archaic protection or shelter

14. (modifier) designating a member or members of the main opposition party in Parliament who would hold ministerial office if their party were in power

    shadow Chancellor

    shadow cabinet

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verb

1. to cast a shadow over

2. to make dark or gloomy; blight

3. to shade from light

4. to follow or trail secretly

5. (often foll by forth) to represent vaguely

6. painting drawing another word for shade

shadow Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing shadow

• afraid of one's own shadow
• beyond a (shadow of a) doubt

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Synonym Usage

See shade.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preshadow
  noun
• shadower
  noun
• shadowless
  adjective
• shadowlike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• shadows
  plural

Participles

• shadowing
  present
• shadowed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• shadow
  simple
• shadows
  simple
• have shadowed
  perfect
• has shadowed
  perfect
• am shadowing
  progressive
• are shadowing
  progressive
• is shadowing
  progressive
• have been shadowing
  perfect progressive
• has been shadowing
  perfect progressive

Past

• shadowed
  simple
• had shadowed
  perfect
• was shadowing
  progressive
• were shadowing
  progressive
• had been shadowing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will shadow
  simple
• will have shadowed
  perfect
• will be shadowing
  progressive
• will have been shadowing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of shadow

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun shadwe, shadu(e), shadow(e), Old English sceadu, oblique case scead(u)we; Middle English verb shadwe(n), shadu(e) “to shade, provide shade, cast a shadow, protect,” Old English sceadwian “to cover with shadow, protect,” derivative of the noun; compare Old Saxon skadowan, skadoian, Gothic (ufar)skadwjan “to (over)shadow”; see also shade

Explanation

A shadow is a dark shape that is formed when an object blocks a source of light. On a sunny day, practically everything casts a shadow — including you. Shadow can also act as an action, like when you shadow, or follow, someone on the first day at a new job. Depending on its use, shadow can have negative or positive connotations. Children often play with their shadows and think of their shadows as constant companions, like in the song lyric "just me and my shadow." On the other hand, you could be such a wimp that you fear your own shadow or at least fear what lurks in the shadows. Used as a verb, a spy could shadow you without your knowledge. Or, your faithful dog might shadow you as you pace around the house. You might be sick and tired of living in the shadow of your older sister who always seems to be the center of attention — blocking you from the spotlight.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

shadow shadows shadowed shadowing

Until the arrival of Emirati cash, Man City had spent much of its history in the shadow of its richer, more successful crosstown rival, Manchester United.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

A shadow can briefly resemble a face, or one object can momentarily be mistaken for another.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 24, 2026

Burghart, the Conservative shadow Northern Ireland secretary, also attended the meeting and has registered a gift of £4,088.97, covering flights, accommodation and transportation.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

But the “L.A. Confidential” shadow is long, and the artlessly edited “The Black Dahlia” wilted quickly in it.

From Salon ● Sep. 18, 2026

Danny had never given too much attention to his shadow.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova

European hopes of parity had begun to fade into the shadows of the evening sunshine, with Angela Stanford's visitors seemingly assuming control of the 20th edition of the biggest team competition in women's golf.

From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026

"A lot of time, optimizing and chasing different shadows."

From Science Daily ● Sep. 3, 2026

Montes shadows the quarterbacks and tries to listen in on Chesney and others whenever he can.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

Atlas works in the shadows as “a think tank that creates think tanks,” and trains its partners on “how to win the battle for hearts and minds.”

From Salon ● Sep. 1, 2026

At last we were off down the road with the setting sun casting long shadows before us.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck

The French coastguard, who had shadowed the vessel, said about 60 migrants on the boat were in "precarious conditions" and refused help as they were "determined to take all risks to reach" the UK.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

Rising Treasury yields have been shadowed by mortgage rates, and the average rate on a 30-year home loan recently topped 7%.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

The result is a patchwork of shadowed areas that can stay extremely cold, preserve water, and protect delicate molecules and potential microorganisms from damaging radiation.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 25, 2026

Elsewhere in Spain, the same fervour could be seen almost everywhere shadowed by the eclipse, such as the town of Colmenar Viejo, near Madrid.

From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026

Clare suspected they’d be happiest in the shadowed north edge of the garden.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

The latest measurements suggest that conventional nuclear shadowing by itself is not enough to account for the observed pattern.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 12, 2026

Wednesday's full eclipse may be something many of us remember for a long time: the special glasses, the colanders, and the eerie shadowing of the sun.

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

The documentary team immersed itself in the 2022 McDonald’s All-American Games, shadowing two boys and two girls throughout the weekend.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 17, 2026

After squeezing in the back of too many cabs, he began shadowing Hassabis at home and filming his “second day” between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 17, 2026

Robb turned the big grey stallion and walked him slowly away from her, Grey Wind shadowing his steps.

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin

Related Words

• dark
• gloom
• obscurity
• shade