adj

dusky

DUHS-kee

Dusky (adj) means Dimly lit, as things appear at dusk. Example: “The room had a dusky glow from the single lamp.”

adj

Dimly lit, as things appear at dusk.

"The room had a dusky glow from the single lamp."

Somewhat dark in shade or colour.

"She wore a dusky pink dress that suited the evening light."

How to use dusky

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDim, shadowy, or having a muted, darker shade of a colour.

When to use it

Older use of "dusky" to describe skin tone is now considered dated and best avoided.

Common pairings

dusky light dusky pink dusky room

duskier comparative, duskies plural, duskiest superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “dusky” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Can you complete this real example?

The room had a _____ glow from the single lamp.

From "dusk" plus the adjective ending "-y," describing something with the dim, shadowy quality of evening light.

husky Sandusky

What does “dusky” mean?

The word “dusky” means dimly lit, as things appear at dusk. In plain terms, dim, shadowy, or having a muted, darker shade of a colour.

How do you pronounce “dusky”?

“Dusky” is pronounced DUHS-kee (/ˈdʌs.ki/ in IPA).

How do you use “dusky” in a sentence?

Here is “dusky” used in a sentence: “The room had a dusky glow from the single lamp.”

What part of speech is “dusky”?

“Dusky” is an adjective.

How many meanings does “dusky” have?

“Dusky” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: dimly lit, as things appear at dusk.