DictionaryAI

dark

DAHRK/dɑɹk/UKDAHK/dɑːk/

Formsdarker, darkest

18 meanings of dark

Practice

  1. 1
    adjective
    With little or no light, so it is hard to see, or with the lights turned off.

    Like being in a closet with the door shut and the light off.

    The room was so dark that she could not find the door.

    We walked home along a dark street with no streetlights.

    UsageSay it's getting dark when night is coming.

    Similardim, unlit, black, murky, shadowy

    Oppositelight, bright, lit, illuminated

    Note
  2. 2
    deep coloradjective
    Deep or strong in color, not light or pale.

    Like the deep color of chocolate instead of milky cream.

    She painted the front door a dark green.

    He wore a dark blue jacket to the dinner.

    UsagePut it before a color: dark blue, dark green.

    Similardeep, dull, muted, dusky, inky

    Oppositebright, light, pale

  3. 3
    adjective
    Evil or full of bad intentions.

    Like the bad guy in a movie who only wants to do harm.

    The story has a dark villain who wants to hurt people.

    He had a dark side that very few people ever saw.

    UsageYou often hear a dark side and dark forces.

    Similarevil, sinister, malevolent, malign, wicked

    Oppositegood, virtuous, benevolent

  4. 4
    grim outlookadjective
    Very sad, gloomy or without hope, like a bad time in life or a grim view of the future.

    Like a cloudy day that never seems to clear up.

    The future looked dark after the family lost their home.

    It was a dark time when no one believed things would get better.

    UsageOften with time words: dark days, a dark time.

    Similargloomy, bleak, grim, dismal, somber

    Oppositebright, hopeful, cheerful, rosy

  5. 5
    absence of lightnoununcountable
    The state of having little or no light.

    Like when you close your eyes and see nothing at all.

    Many small children are afraid of the dark.

    She felt her way through the dark to reach the switch.

    UsageSay in the dark and afraid of the dark.

    Similargloom, blackness, murk

    Oppositelight, daylight

    Note
  6. 6
    grim (story)adjective
    Focused on the grim, scary, or unpleasant parts of life, as in a story or film.

    Like a fairy tale that is more frightening than happy.

    The movie was too dark for young children.

    She writes dark stories full of death and dread.

    UsageYou often hear dark humor and a dark turn.

    Similarblack, grim, macabre, morbid, bleak

    Oppositelight, lighthearted, upbeat

  7. 7
    adjective
    Used about a person with black or brown hair or eyes, or with brown or black skin.

    Her brother is tall and dark, with curly black hair.

    The twins look nothing alike, since one is fair and the other is dark.

    UsageWords like dark-haired or dark-skinned are clearer than just dark.

    Oppositefair

    Note
  8. 8
    nightfallnoununcountable
    The time of evening when night begins.

    Like the moment the sun goes down and the day ends.

    We need to get home before dark.

    The children played outside until dark.

    UsageSay before dark and after dark, with no "the".

    Similarnightfall, dusk, sundown, sunset

    Oppositedawn, daybreak, sunrise

  9. 9
    adjective
    Not working or in use for a while, for example closed, turned off, or not sending any messages.

    The theater is dark on Mondays, so there is no show that night.

    The hikers' phones went dark after the second day, and their families began to worry.

    UsageOften go dark: a closed theater or a phone that stops sending messages goes dark.

    Similarclosed, inactive, silent

    Oppositeactive

    Note
  10. 10
    not knowingnoununcountable
    A state of not knowing something that others may know.

    Like trying to guess what is inside a closed box.

    They kept her in the dark about the surprise.

    He was completely in the dark about the changes at work.

    UsageSay keep someone in the dark or be in the dark about something.

    Similarignorance

    Oppositeknowledge

    Note
  11. 11
    secretadjective
    Kept secret or hidden from other people.

    Like a surprise party that everyone agrees to keep secret.

    The company kept its plans dark until the launch.

    Please keep the news dark until we tell the rest of the family.

    UsageOften keep something dark, meaning keep it secret.

    Similarsecret, hidden, clandestine, concealed, private

    Oppositeopen, public, transparent

    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of dark apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–4, 6–7, 9, 11–12, 14, 16

From Old English deorc, meaning "dark." Its deeper origin is uncertain.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

Meanings 5, 8, 10

From Middle English derk, coming from the adjective "dark."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 1 fact

  • The noun dark comes from Middle English derk, with derivation from the adjective given as an explanation. en.wiktionary.org
Meanings 13, 15

From Old English deorcian, the verb form of "dark."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

  • The verb dark descends from Old English deorcian. en.wiktionary.org
  • Deorcian is the corresponding Old English verb formed from the adjective meaning dark. en.wiktionary.org