noun

shadow

SHA-doh

noun

A dark shape cast on a surface when something blocks light.

"Her shadow stretched long across the pavement in the evening sun."

A person who secretly follows or closely monitors another.

"The detective kept a shadow on the suspect for a week."

verb

To follow and observe someone closely, often to learn their job.

"The new nurse shadowed a senior colleague for her first two shifts."

adjective

Operating informally or unofficially while acting like a real authority.

"The opposition appointed a shadow minister for health."

How to Use Shadow

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA dark shape cast by blocked light, or, more broadly, someone/something that closely follows or unofficially mirrors another.

Common mistake

Shadow and shade come from the same root but aren't interchangeable: shade is the area of darkness itself, while a shadow is the shape an object casts.

Easily confused with

shade →

Common pairings

cast a shadow shadow someone shadow cabinet

Word Forms

more shadow comparative, shadowed past tense, shadows plural, shadows singular, most shadow superlative

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Her _____ stretched long across the pavement in the evening sun.

Etymology

From Old English sceaduwe, related to sceadu ("shade") — shadow and shade are doublets from the same Germanic root.

Rhymes for shadow

meadow

See all rhymes for shadow →