adjective B1 Intermediate

shadowy

SHAD-oh-ee

Shadowy (adjective) means Dim, dark, or full of shadows. Example: “A shadowy figure waited at the end of the alley.”

adjective

Dim, dark, or full of shadows.

"A shadowy figure waited at the end of the alley."

"The old library had shadowy corners perfect for hiding."

Vague, secretive, or hard to pin down; suspicious in an unclear way.

"The report accused a shadowy organization of funding the campaign."

How to use shadowy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither literally dim and shadow-filled, or figuratively mysterious and secretive.

Common pairings

a shadowy figure shadowy past shadowy organization

Word forms

shadowier comparative, shadowiest superlative

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A _____ figure waited at the end of the alley.

Etymology

From Middle English schadwy, built from "shadow" plus "-y".

Origin: Middle English

Rhymes for shadowy

showy snowy

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Frequently asked questions

What does “shadowy” mean?

The word “shadowy” means dim, dark, or full of shadows. In plain terms, either literally dim and shadow-filled, or figuratively mysterious and secretive.

How do you pronounce “shadowy”?

“Shadowy” is pronounced SHAD-oh-ee (/ˈʃæd.oʊ.i/ in IPA).

How do you use “shadowy” in a sentence?

Here is “shadowy” used in a sentence: “A shadowy figure waited at the end of the alley.”

What part of speech is “shadowy”?

“Shadowy” is an adjective.

Where does the word “shadowy” come from?

The word “shadowy” comes from Middle English. From Middle English schadwy, built from "shadow" plus "-y".

How many meanings does “shadowy” have?

“Shadowy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: dim, dark, or full of shadows.

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