shadow
SHA-doh
Shadow (noun) means a dark shape cast on a surface when something blocks light. Example: “Her shadow stretched long across the pavement in the evening sun.”
noun
1
A dark shape cast on a surface when something blocks light.
"Her shadow stretched long across the pavement in the evening sun."
"The tall oak tree threw a cool shadow over the picnic blanket."
"Under the bridge, the children played in the deep shadow and stayed out of the heat."
2
A person who secretly follows or closely monitors another.
"The detective kept a shadow on the suspect for a week."
"The spy realised that the man behind her was a shadow sent to watch her."
"Every politician in the film has a hired shadow reporting on where they go."
verb
1
To follow and observe someone closely, often to learn their job.
"The new nurse shadowed a senior colleague for her first two shifts."
"Students can shadow a working vet for a day to see what the job involves."
"I shadowed our head chef all week to learn how the kitchen runs."
adjective
1
Operating informally or unofficially while acting like a real authority.
"The opposition appointed a shadow minister for health."
"The party has set up a shadow cabinet that mirrors the real government."
"She sits on the shadow education team and challenges every new policy."
How to use shadow
Learner’s notesIn 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
Common pairings
cast a shadow
shadow someone
shadow cabinet
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Word forms
- Plural
- shadows
- Third person singular
- shadows
- Past tense
- shadowed
- Comparative
- more shadow
- Superlative
- most shadow
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.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for shadow
See all rhymes for shadow →Frequently asked questions
What does “shadow” mean?
The word “shadow” means a dark shape cast on a surface when something blocks light. In plain terms, a dark shape cast by blocked light, or, more broadly, someone/something that closely follows or unofficially mirrors another.
How do you pronounce “shadow”?
“Shadow” is pronounced SHA-doh (/ˈʃædəʊ̯/ in IPA).
How do you use “shadow” in a sentence?
Here is “shadow” used in a sentence: “Her shadow stretched long across the pavement in the evening sun.”
What part of speech is “shadow”?
Depending on how it is used, “shadow” can be a noun, a verb and an adjective.
Where does the word “shadow” come from?
The word “shadow” comes from Old English. From Old English sceaduwe, related to sceadu ("shade") — shadow and shade are doublets from the same Germanic root.
Is “shadow” a common word?
“Shadow” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “shadow” have?
“Shadow” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a dark shape cast on a surface when something blocks light.
What is the difference between shadow and shade?
A shadow is the distinct dark shape an object casts when it blocks light — you can see its outline, like your own shadow on the pavement. Shade is simply an area sheltered from direct light, with no particular shape, such as the coolness under a tree. A shadow has form; shade is just relief from the sun.
What causes a shadow?
A shadow appears when an opaque object stands in the path of light and blocks it from reaching a surface. The object stops the light, leaving a darker area shaped like its outline behind it. The position and size of the shadow depend on where the light source sits and how close the object is.
Why do shadows change length during the day?
Shadows depend on the angle of the light. When the sun is low, in the early morning and late afternoon, light strikes objects from the side and stretches their shadows long. When the sun is high near midday, it shines almost straight down, so shadows shrink to their shortest. The moving sun keeps them shifting.
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