darkness

noun

DARK-nis/ˈdɑɹknɪs/UKDARK-nuhs/ˈdɑːknəs/

Pluraldarknesses (some meanings)

10 meanings of darkness

1
noununcountable
The state of being dark; the complete or partial absence of light.
Total darkness fell over the valley once the last lamp was extinguished.
In the cave's darkness, the explorers relied entirely on touch.
Similarblackness, gloom, murk, shadow
Oppositelight, brightness, daylight
2
noununcountable
The quality of reflecting little light, tending toward a black or brown color.
The darkness of her hair contrasted sharply with her pale skin.
Roasting the beans longer increases the darkness of the final blend.
Oppositelightness, paleness
3
noununcountable
A state of gloom, low spirits, or emotional depression that weighs on a person.
His poetry channels the darkness of years spent grieving.
A creeping darkness colored every conversation she had that month.
Similargloom, despair, melancholy, depression
Oppositejoy, cheer
4
noununcountable
A condition of secrecy or concealment in which actions are kept hidden from public view.
The conspiracy thrived in darkness, its members never named in public.
Such deals depend on darkness, where no record is ever traced.
Similarsecrecy, concealment
Oppositeopenness, transparency
5
noununcountable
A lack of knowledge; obscurity of meaning or intelligibility; the realm of the unknown.
The origins of the language are lost in darkness.
Their research aimed to lift the darkness surrounding the disease.
Similarobscurity, mystery, ignorance
Oppositeclarity
6
noununcountable
A lack of understanding or compassion, amounting to spiritual or mental blindness.
The sermon warned against the darkness of a soul closed to mercy.
Prejudice springs from a darkness that refuses to see others clearly.
Similarblindness, ignorance
Oppositeenlightenment
7
nouncountable or uncountable
Any space or expanse that a dark, blackish color fills or pervades.
In the portrait, the figure's cloak melts into the surrounding darkness.
The photographer balanced bright highlights against a velvety darkness.
Similarshadow, blackness
8
noununcountable
Hell; the place of damnation or eternal punishment.
Scripture speaks of the wicked being banished to the outer darkness.
He feared that his sins would condemn him to eternal darkness.
Similarhell, damnation, perdition
Oppositeheaven, paradise
9
noununcountable
Nothingness, emptiness, or vanity; the absence of substance or meaning.
The philosopher wrote of life's pleasures dissolving into darkness.
Beneath all the wealth and noise lay nothing but darkness.
Similarnothingness, emptiness, void
10
nouncountable
A particular instance or product of being dark; a discrete patch of dark.
An unnatural darkness gathered where the smoke had been.
She painted a darkness so thick it seemed to swallow the light.
Similarshadow

Practice

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

Origin

From Middle English derknesse, from Old English deorcnes; it is simply "dark" plus the suffix "-ness."