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

We saw in that shadow docket order from last year, the court said, We think the Federal Reserve is different because of reasons.

From Slate ● Aug. 16, 2026

Some who live in the shadow of Diablo Canyon say a 2045 extension feels increasingly inevitable.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026

During one recent overnight attack, AFP journalists were granted rare access to shadow "Esko", the channel's administrator, on condition that his identity and some details of the operation remained undisclosed.

From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026

Eventually he realizes that he doesn’t mind “the emotional shadow that Graceland and Elvis casts over the song. In some way I think it adds an emotional punch.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

In its gentle shadow, multiple tables had been arranged.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

"Prof Licence shows what can be achieved when neglected sources are expertly brought out of the shadows," he added.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026

It creates a strange twilight during which temperatures drop, shadows appear at strange angles and some animals go to sleep.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

Anderson’s Billy steps out of the shadows with a full face of femme fatale makeup and a syrupy Dolly Parton drawl, promptly serving Kris enough fried chicken to feed a bobsled team.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

Before the VAT rise took effect, Putin warned the new rules must not push firms into the shadows and called for a "radical reduction in illegal employment".

From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026

Clare drew his cloak from her, clasped it around his neck, and crept into the shadows.

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

In his first few years, the former quarterback and Georgia state high school player of year routinely shadowed Rams receivers step for step on routes during practice, or lined up opposite them in press coverage.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026

NASA's Artemis program is aiming for crewed missions to the moon's south polar region in 2028, where permanently shadowed craters may contain valuable deposits of water ice.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 3, 2026

The 51-year-old ran a campaign shadowed by the divisive legacy of her father, who ruled Peru in the 1990s.

From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026

The soldiers are shadowed by an allegorical figure carrying poppies, symbolizing sleep—an analog, in the art of the time, for death—and a laurel branch symbolizing peace.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

She was walking with her mother, a bespectacled woman in a plum-purple dress, whose long, somber face was shadowed by a straw hat adorned with enough silk violets to plant a garden.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

All new employees get four days of training and then an additional week of shadowing other employees on the floor before they start selling.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 6, 2026

She was still shadowing a more senior member of staff when the choking incident occurred.

From BBC ● Mar. 25, 2026

Instead of shadowing wolves, ravens repeatedly returned to specific areas where kills were more common.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 19, 2026

That includes shadowing Chinese coastguard ships and responding to suspicious vessels lingering near Taiwan's subsea telecoms cables.

From Barron's ● Nov. 11, 2025

One evening, as he returned from shadowing someone, Victor went past Barbarossa’s shop to put up a sign Ida had written: Salesperson required, experience preferred.

From "The Thief Lord" by Cornelia Funke

Related Words

• dark
• gloom
• obscurity
• shade