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Definition of darken

darken

/ˈdɑːrkən/
dar · ken
Adverb:darkly
•
Adjective:dark
•
Past Simple:darkened
•
Past Participle:darkened
•
Present Participle:darkening
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darken Lexical Profile

darken Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To make or become dark or darker in color, shade, or level of light.

Example

"Heavy storm clouds began to darken the afternoon sky."

2

To become or cause to become gloomy, sad, angry, or troubled in mood or facial expression.

Example

"Her expression darkened as she read the disappointing news in the letter."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for darken

• Nearby Words

dark
dark-eyed junco
dark-spotted anaconda
darken
darkhorse
darkish
darkly

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in Middle English from the adjective "dark" (from Old English deorc, meaning "without light" or "gloomy") combined with the verb-forming suffix "-en".

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Darken. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/darken
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