Dark

/dɑːrk/

Meaning & Definition

noun
The absence of light.
He was afraid of the dark when he was a child.
A condition of not being known, understood, or visible.
The project was still in the dark regarding the funding.
verb
To make or become dark.
The sunset darkened the sky quickly.
adjective
Having very little or no light.
The room was dark, making it difficult to find anything.
Of a color with low lightness or saturation, often close to black.
She wore a dark blue dress that complemented her complexion.
Lacking in moral or intellectual illumination; obscure or hidden.
There are dark corners of the internet that many people avoid.
Characterized by gloom or dread; ominous.
The dark clouds signaled an approaching storm.

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English 'deorc' meaning dark, obscure.

Common Phrases and Expressions

in the dark
Uninformed about something.
dark horse
A candidate or competitor about whom little is known.
dark side
The hidden or less favorable aspect of something.

Related Words

darkness
The absence of light.
darken
To make or become dark.
darkly
In a dark manner.

Slang Meanings

Dark humor
His dark humor often touches on sensitive topics.
Dark web
She warned him about the dangers of browsing the dark web.