shadow

SaySHA-doh/ˈʃædoʊ/UK/ˈʃædəʊ//ˈʃædəʉ/

Pluralshadows

Verbshadows, shadowing, shadowed

25 meanings of shadow

Practice

1
dark shapenouncountable or uncountable
A dark shape made when something blocks light, or a similar shape added in a picture or design.
The tree's shadow stretched across the yard in the late afternoon.
She made shadows on the wall with her hands.
UsageThings cast shadows. To stay out of the sun, sit in the shade.
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2
nouncountable or uncountable
Darkness in a place where the light is blocked or does not fully reach.
The corner of the room was in shadow.
Deep shadow covered the path under the tall trees.
UsageSay in shadow: the room was in shadow.
Similardarkness, shade, gloom
Oppositelight, sunlight
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3
looming influencenouncountable or uncountable
A strong influence that hangs over people or events, often a bad one.
Like a dark cloud that follows a person around.
The war left a shadow over the whole town for years.
The shadow of the old factory fire still hangs over the town.
UsageSay the war cast a shadow over the town.
Similarinfluence, legacy
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4
sheltered areanouncountable or uncountable
A place that is blocked or protected by something large in front of it.
Like the dry spot behind a big umbrella in the rain.
We pitched the tent in the shadow of a big rock, out of the strong wind.
The little harbor sits in the shadow of the cliffs, so the water stays calm.
UsageSay in the shadow of a rock or hill.
Similarlee, shelter
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5
nouncountable or uncountable
Colored makeup that people put on their eyelids to add color or make their eyes stand out.
She brushed a little gold shadow on her eyelids before the party.
By the end of the hot day, her blue shadow had smudged at the corners of her eyes.
UsageAlso called eyeshadow.
Similareyeshadow
6
oppositionadjectiveCommonwealth
Belonging to the political party that is out of power and checks the government's work.
The shadow minister asked hard questions about the new school budget.
The shadow cabinet met to plan its answer to the government's plan.
UsageUse it before a job: the shadow minister.
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7
verbtransitive
To follow someone secretly to watch where they go and what they do.
The police shadowed the man for three days before they arrested him.
Officers will shadow the truck until it reaches the warehouse.
Similartail, follow, trail, track
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8
faint copynouncountable or uncountable
A faint or weak copy of something, not as full or strong as the real thing.
Like a photocopy of a photocopy: the picture is there, but it is weak.
After the injury, he was only a shadow of the player he used to be.
The movie is a pale shadow of the book.
UsageSay he is a shadow of his former self.
Similarghost, echo
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9
unofficialadjective
Working in secret or without official approval, but still having real power or effect.
A shadow market for tickets grew up outside the stadium.
During the strike, workers set up a shadow committee to keep the plant running.
UsageUse it before a noun: a shadow market.
Similarunofficial, underground, clandestine, covert, informal
Oppositeofficial, formal, legitimate, recognized
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10
observe at workverbtransitive or intransitive
To spend time with someone at their job to learn how the work is done.
Like following a tour guide, but the tour is someone's job.
Maria shadowed a nurse for a day to see if she would like the job.
Students can shadow at the animal clinic during spring break.
UsageSay shadow a doctor, or shadow at a clinic.
Note
11
slight tracenouncountable or uncountable
A very small amount of something, such as doubt or a feeling.
There wasn't a shadow of doubt in her mind about the answer.
His voice had a shadow of sadness in it.
UsageSay without a shadow of a doubt: you are completely sure.
Similartrace, hint, shred, flicker
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12
darkenverbtransitive
To make something darker by blocking light, or to make something look sad or gloomy.
Tall trees shadow the path for most of the day.
The big oak tree shadows our whole backyard in the afternoon.
UsageTrees shadow the path. For feelings, cloud is often simpler.
Similarshade, darken, overshadow, cloud, dim
Oppositeilluminate, light, brighten, lighten
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13
dark sidenouncountable or uncountable
The hidden part of a person's mind that holds feelings and wishes they do not accept about themselves.
Like a dark room in your mind where you put the feelings you do not want to look at.
Her therapist said her anger came from a part of her shadow she had never faced.
Everyone carries a shadow made of the feelings they try not to see.
UsageSay the shadow or the shadow self.
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14
ghostnouncountable or uncountable
A ghost or spirit of a dead person.
People say a shadow walks the halls of the old house at night.
Villagers say the dead king's shadow still haunts the castle.
Similarghost, spirit, phantom, specter
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Less common meanings

15
noun
The state of being noticed or praised less because someone or something more famous or successful is near.
She grew up in the shadow of her famous older brother.
After years in his boss's shadow, Sam finally got credit for his own ideas.
UsageSay she lived in her brother's shadow.
Note
16
nouncountable or uncountable
A person who secretly follows someone and watches what they do.
The detective hired a shadow to follow the suspect all week.
He noticed his shadow ducking into a doorway whenever he turned around.
Similartail
Note
17
constant companionnouncountable or uncountable
A person or animal that stays with someone all the time and never leaves their side.
The puppy became her shadow, following her from room to room.
Ever since kindergarten, his little brother has been his shadow.
UsageSay the puppy is her shadow.
Similarcompanion, sidekick
18
hint atverbtransitive
To show or suggest something in a faint, incomplete way.
Ah, ye admonitions and warnings! why stay ye not when ye come? But rather are ye predictions than warnings, ye shadows!
1851, Herman Melville, Moby-Dick
UsageNot the same as foreshadow, which hints at something that comes later.
Similarsuggest, reflect, echo
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19
nounUKcountable or uncountable
A new worker who learns the job by going everywhere with an experienced officer.
The sergeant's shadow followed her on every call that week.
As a shadow, Tom watched how the constable handled each stop.
Similartrainee, apprentice
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20
concealverbtransitive
To hide something or keep it out of sight.
Similarhide, conceal, obscure, mask
Oppositereveal, expose
21
reflectionnounobsoletecountable or uncountable
The image of something seen in a mirror or in still water.
I was the shadow of the waxwing slain By the false azure in the windowpane; I was the smudge of ashen fluff—and I Lived on, flew on, in the reflected sky.
1962, Charles Kinbote [pseudonym; Vladimir Nabokov], Pale FireHere, shadow means the image of the bird reflected in the window.
Note
22
uninvited guestnounobsoletecountable or uncountable
A guest who comes to a dinner or party with an invited person, without being invited themselves.
I muſt not haue my boord peſter'd with ſhadowes, / That under other mens protection breake in / Without invitement.
c. 1624, Philip Massinger, The Vnnaturall Combat. A Tragedie.Here, shadowes means people who come to dinner with a guest without being invited.
Note
23
adjectiveUS
Holding an office that is not officially accepted, to push for real power or a vote, like D.C.'s shadow senators.
24
verb
To hide one name in a computer program by using the same name again inside a smaller part of the code.
25
verb
To copy a computer's built-in startup instructions into faster memory so the machine can read them quickly.

Practice

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

Origins

Meanings 1–6, 8–9, 11, 13–17, 19, 21–22

From an Old English word sceadu, meaning shadow or shade. It goes far back to older Germanic words for shade.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Shadow derives from Old English sceadu, meaning shadow or shade. en.wiktionary.org
The Old English word has an older Germanic origin. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 7, 10, 12, 18, 20

From the Old English verb sceadwian, made from sceadu ("shadow") plus a verb-forming ending.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

The verb shadow derives from the Old English verb sceadwian. en.wiktionary.org
Sceadwian was formed from sceadu, meaning shadow, plus a verb-forming suffix. en.wiktionary.org