verb

darken

DAH-kuhn

verb

To make or become darker in light or color.

"The sky darkened before the storm hit."

"She darkened her hair for the role."

To make a mood, tone, or situation gloomier or more troubling.

"His expression darkened as the bad news sank in."

How to Use Darken

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo become or make something less light, either literally (in color/light) or figuratively (in mood).

Common pairings

sky darkens darken a room his mood darkened

Word Forms

darkened past tense, darken plural, darkened plural, darkens singular, darken singular, darkened singular, darkenest singular, darkenedst singular, darkeneth singular

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The sky _____ before the storm hit.

Etymology

From Old English deorcnian, built from dark plus the verb-forming suffix -en, on the same pattern as "sadden" or "widen."

Rhymes for darken

Harken

See all rhymes for darken →