dark
1 of 3adjective
ˈdärk 
darker; darkest
1
a
: devoid or partially devoid of light : not receiving, reflecting, transmitting, or radiating light
a dark room
b
: transmitting only a portion of light
dark glasses
2
a
: wholly or partially black
dark clothing
b
of a color : of low or very low lightness
dark blue
c
: being less light in color than other substances of the same kind
dark rum
3
a
: arising from or showing evil traits or desires : evil
the dark powers that lead to war
b
: dismal, gloomy
had a dark view of the future
c
: lacking knowledge or culture : unenlightened
a dark period in history
d
: relating to grim or depressing circumstances
dark humor
4
a
: not clear to the understanding
b
: not known or explored because of remoteness
the darkest reaches of the continent
5
: intense in color, coloring, or pigmentation : not light or fair
dark hair
a dark complexion
6
: secret
kept his plans dark
7
: possessing depth and richness
a dark voice
8
: closed to the public
the theater is dark in the summer
darkish
ˈdär-kish
adjective darkly adverb
dark
2 of 3noun
1
a
: a place or time of little or no light : night, nightfall
get home before dark
b
: absence of light : darkness
afraid of the dark
2
a
: a color of low or very low lightness : a dark or deep color —usually plural
a painter who uses a lot of darks
b
darks plural : clothing that is dark in color
separated the darks and the lights before starting the laundry
dark
3 of 3verb
darked; darking; darks
intransitive verb
obsolete : to grow dark (see dark entry 1)
transitive verb
: to make dark
Phrases
in the dark 1
: in secrecy
most of his dealings were done in the dark
2
: in ignorance
kept the public in the dark about the agreement
1
: to become dark
The room suddenly went dark.
2
a
: to stop operating or functioning : to shut down
Most Salt Lake City restaurants go dark on Sundays …
Kurt Repanshek
Kurt RepanshekAndy Beal was one of 220 million subscribers to Skype … who saw the service go dark on Aug. 16. Stephen Baker
Stephen BakerIn the end, the heart stops, the cells die, the neurons go dark … Joshua Ferris
Joshua Ferris b
communications : to stop broadcasting or transmitting : to go offline
The roosters were just beginning to crow in that lost hour before dawn when Lt. Col. Steve Russell of the Army's 4th Infantry Division ordered his men to "go dark" and roll their Humvees up to the edge of a lone farmhouse here. William Booth
William Booth
Synonyms
Adjective
- black
- caliginous
- darkened
- darkish
- darkling
- darksome
- dim
- dimmed
- dusk
- dusky
- gloomy
- lightless
- murky
- obscure
- obscured
- pitch-black
- pitch-dark
- pitchy
- rayless
- somber
- sombre
- stygian
- tenebrific
- tenebrous
- unlit
Noun
- black
- blackness
- candlelight
- darkness
- dusk
- gloaming
- gloom
- murk
- night
- semidarkness
- shade
- shadows
- twilight
- umbra
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective She sat in the dark room alone. Soon it will be dark enough to see the stars. It was a dark and stormy night. Dark clouds of smoke were coming from the windows. She's wearing a dark suit to the interview. a man wearing dark clothing You've got dark circles under your eyes this morning. dark spots on the skin Noun He's 12 years old and still afraid of the dark. The burglars hid in the dark between the two buildings. He bought the kids special rings that glow in the dark. We'd better get home before dark. They waited until after dark to begin their escape. He uses lots of darks in his decorating. Wash the lights and the darks separately. See More
Recent Examples on the Web Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2022 The Russians’ biggest rule for residents was to get inside by 6 p.m. and stay there, quiet and in the dark, several said. Steve Hendrix, Serhii Korolchuk And Robyn Dixon, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Sep. 2022 The opaque process left nonprofits and community groups in the dark and enabled councilmembers to control who received applications for the millions in federal funding, split evenly among the county’s 11 districts. Lucas Daprile, cleveland, 11 Sep. 2022 The Russians’ biggest rule for residents was to get inside by 6 p.m. and stay there, quiet and in the dark, several said. Robyn Dixon, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2022 Marco Momich, 31, of Milwaukee was tossing a glow-in-the-dark lure into the calm lake Wednesday evening. Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2022 So if your eyes have adjusted to the dark, looking at a red light is fine. WIRED, 10 Sep. 2022 But some residents were still in the dark yesterday and Wednesday, according to Pacific Gas and Electric. Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 9 Sep. 2022 Graham delivered a stunning state-of-the-art package, with its 300-foot stage, striking live video projections of the after-dark headliners, and a 300,000watt sound system that amplified the music with crystalline presence. Merrie Monteagudo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 Iris Samuels, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Sep. 2022 Although known for his work in comedy, Cregger is a voracious student of horror movies and had always gravitated toward the dark. Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2022 Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is without power this morning as travelers out of Austin scrambled in the dark at the Barbara Jordan Terminal. Chris O'connell, Chron, 7 Sep. 2022 An eerie dark-comic premise: Ralph Fiennes portrays the world-class-est of world-class chefs, inviting a select handful of foodies to his remote island resort for the meal of a lifetime. Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2022 At the time, only luxury and five star resorts were ranking on top of Google for these exciting destinations leaving millions of travelers stranded, sort of out in the Internet dark. Jon Younger, Forbes, 26 Aug. 2022 There’s a laundry room and a sunroom, although Mr. Steinman preferred the dark. New York Times, 5 Aug. 2022 The volunteer passengers who participated in simulated evacuations had varying seat sizes but during the study did not have to deal with real-life obstacles like bags, smoke, comfort animals or the dark. CBS News, 4 Aug. 2022 From subjects like thigh chafing to questions about why one armpit smells more than the other, Futher—with her signature dark tousled pixie, black-rim circle frames, and deep fuchsia lip—leaves no stone unturned in addressing all things sweat. Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 2 Aug. 2022 Sheena Chihak, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 July 2022 Imagine the room at noon, with maximum sunlight pouring in—where does the light fall and where would dark furniture or fixtures be most visible? Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 July 2022 The power of light turning to dark and then light again. Terry Pluto, cleveland, 23 July 2022 From strawberry blonde and pastels to dark sultry red, there's no shortage of options. Allure, 20 Apr. 2022 From dinnertime to dark every Wednesday in Livonia, enjoy a car show with food and music. Layla Mcmurtrie, Detroit Free Press, 6 June 2022 As the distorted guitar sets in, the room switches to dark with glowing lights illuminating the performance. Izzy Colón, SPIN, 23 Mar. 2022 Say goodbye to dark under-eye circles with this YSL option. Rachel Dube, SELF, 7 Apr. 2022 This means better contrast and less bleed from light to dark. Parker Hall, Wired, 30 Mar. 2022 See More
Adjective
Focusing on the eyes and lips, this kit comes with the Just a Sec eye tint in golden peach, the Best Eyeshadow in dark brown, the Best Pencil in black, and the Cool Gloss in the original clear shade. Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2022 The Russians’ biggest rule for residents was to get inside by 6 p.m. and stay there, quiet and in the dark, several said. Steve Hendrix, Serhii Korolchuk And Robyn Dixon, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Sep. 2022 The opaque process left nonprofits and community groups in the dark and enabled councilmembers to control who received applications for the millions in federal funding, split evenly among the county’s 11 districts. Lucas Daprile, cleveland, 11 Sep. 2022 The Russians’ biggest rule for residents was to get inside by 6 p.m. and stay there, quiet and in the dark, several said. Robyn Dixon, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2022 Marco Momich, 31, of Milwaukee was tossing a glow-in-the-dark lure into the calm lake Wednesday evening. Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2022 So if your eyes have adjusted to the dark, looking at a red light is fine. WIRED, 10 Sep. 2022 But some residents were still in the dark yesterday and Wednesday, according to Pacific Gas and Electric. Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 9 Sep. 2022 Graham delivered a stunning state-of-the-art package, with its 300-foot stage, striking live video projections of the after-dark headliners, and a 300,000watt sound system that amplified the music with crystalline presence. Merrie Monteagudo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 Noun
As the event wound down Thursday, Ayapan and her husband prepared to return to their village before dark. Iris Samuels, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Sep. 2022 Although known for his work in comedy, Cregger is a voracious student of horror movies and had always gravitated toward the dark. Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2022 Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is without power this morning as travelers out of Austin scrambled in the dark at the Barbara Jordan Terminal. Chris O'connell, Chron, 7 Sep. 2022 An eerie dark-comic premise: Ralph Fiennes portrays the world-class-est of world-class chefs, inviting a select handful of foodies to his remote island resort for the meal of a lifetime. Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2022 At the time, only luxury and five star resorts were ranking on top of Google for these exciting destinations leaving millions of travelers stranded, sort of out in the Internet dark. Jon Younger, Forbes, 26 Aug. 2022 There’s a laundry room and a sunroom, although Mr. Steinman preferred the dark. New York Times, 5 Aug. 2022 The volunteer passengers who participated in simulated evacuations had varying seat sizes but during the study did not have to deal with real-life obstacles like bags, smoke, comfort animals or the dark. CBS News, 4 Aug. 2022 From subjects like thigh chafing to questions about why one armpit smells more than the other, Futher—with her signature dark tousled pixie, black-rim circle frames, and deep fuchsia lip—leaves no stone unturned in addressing all things sweat. Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 2 Aug. 2022 Verb
Chard: Chard can be light to dark green, with stems in colors from white to pink to orange to red. Sheena Chihak, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 July 2022 Imagine the room at noon, with maximum sunlight pouring in—where does the light fall and where would dark furniture or fixtures be most visible? Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 July 2022 The power of light turning to dark and then light again. Terry Pluto, cleveland, 23 July 2022 From strawberry blonde and pastels to dark sultry red, there's no shortage of options. Allure, 20 Apr. 2022 From dinnertime to dark every Wednesday in Livonia, enjoy a car show with food and music. Layla Mcmurtrie, Detroit Free Press, 6 June 2022 As the distorted guitar sets in, the room switches to dark with glowing lights illuminating the performance. Izzy Colón, SPIN, 23 Mar. 2022 Say goodbye to dark under-eye circles with this YSL option. Rachel Dube, SELF, 7 Apr. 2022 This means better contrast and less bleed from light to dark. Parker Hall, Wired, 30 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective, Noun, and Verb
Middle English derk, from Old English deorc; akin to Old High German tarchannen to hide
First Known Use
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Phrases Containing dark
Kids Definition
dark 1 of 2
adjective
ˈdärk
darker; darkest
1
: without light or without much light
a dark closet
2
: not light in color
My dog has a dark coat.
3
: not bright and cheerful : gloomy
Don't look on the dark side of things.
4
: arising from or characterized by evil
The villain revealed his dark side.
dark
2 of 2noun
1
: absence of light : darkness
I'm not afraid of the dark.
2
: a place or time of little or no light
We got home before dark.
dark 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in darkened
being without light or without much light a dark alley that most people wisely avoided Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- darkened
- murky
- black
- dim
- darkish
- gloomy
- somber
- obscured
- lightless
- dusky
- dimmed
- obscure
- unlit
- dusk
- stygian
- darkling
- darksome
- rayless
- sombre
- tenebrous
- pitch-dark
- pitch-black
- caliginous
- gray
- misty
- pitchy
- shady
- twilit
- moonless
- shadowy
- crepuscular
- starless
- tenebrific
- clouded
- dull
- pale
- grey
- cloudy
- foggy
- dulled
- sunless
- lackluster
- smoggy
- leaden
- shadowlike
- fuliginous
- beclouded
- soupy
- befogged
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- light
- bright
- luminous
- illuminated
- brilliant
- lighted
- shining
- lit
- lucid
- illumined
- lucent
- sparkling
- radiant
- brightened
- incandescent
- glowing
- lightsome
- resplendent
- glaring
- effulgent
- shiny
- lambent
- glossy
- alight
- lustrous
- beamy
- beaming
- moonlit
- sunlit
- aglitter
- ultrabright
- spotlit
- relucent
- moony
- agleam
- highlighted
- starlit
- ablaze
- spotlighted
- floodlit
- floodlighted
2
as in black
not having a light complexion he was tall, dark, and handsome Synonyms & Similar Words
- black
- brunette
- swarthy
- swart
- brunet
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- light
- pale
- ashen
- pallid
- sallow
- pasty
- wan
- peaked
- ashy
- peaky
- palish
3
as in darkening
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer her mind was filled with dark thoughts until the results of the medical test came back as negative Synonyms & Similar Words
- darkening
- bleak
- somber
- lonely
- desolate
- murky
- depressive
- depressing
- gray
- cold
- black
- lonesome
- solemn
- blue
- morbid
- gloomy
- grey
- miserable
- chill
- dreary
- wretched
- depressed
- cloudy
- cheerless
- sad
- dismal
- sullen
- morose
- drear
- melancholy
- lugubrious
- oppressive
- funereal
- godforsaken
- sombre
- glum
- forlorn
- sepulchral
- comfortless
- dire
- saturnine
- elegiac
- sunless
- dim
- tenebrous
- disconsolate
- dull
- plutonian
- grim
- dreich
- elegiacal
- desperate
- unhappy
- menacing
- negative
- melancholic
- hopeless
- mournful
- tenebrific
- low
- Cimmerian
- dejected
- distressful
- down
- sorrowful
- woebegone
- distressing
- droopy
- discouraging
- upsetting
- woeful
- mirthless
- drab
- pessimistic
- discomfiting
- dispiriting
- inconsolable
- despondent
- dismaying
- colorless
- disheartening
- hangdog
- dour
- lamentable
- plaintive
- threatening
- louring
- lowery
- lowering
- loury
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- bright
- cheerful
- friendly
- festive
- cheery
- comforting
- gay
- sunshiny
- joyous
- merry
- joyful
- cordial
- jolly
- buoyant
- gay
- optimistic
- mirthful
- blithe
- hopeful
- encouraging
- heartwarming
- cheering
- blithesome
- jocund
- lighthearted
- lightsome
4
as in silent
given to keeping one's activities hidden from public observation or knowledge the actor was always quite dark about his life before his arrival in Hollywood Synonyms & Similar Words
- silent
- quiet
- secretive
- close
- uncommunicative
- closemouthed
- reticent
- prudent
- tight-mouthed
- taciturn
- discreet
- reserved
- clandestine
- stealthy
- secret
- furtive
- sneaky
- tight-lipped
- surreptitious
- undercover
- covert
- underhanded
- sneak
- underhand
- hugger-mugger
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- open
- communicative
- frank
- honest
- candid
- blunt
- outspoken
- tactless
- out-front
- up-front
5
as in ambiguous
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning the superhero was not daunted by the villain's dark threats Synonyms & Similar Words
- ambiguous
- cryptic
- obscure
- mysterious
- murky
- mystic
- enigmatic
- opaque
- esoteric
- vague
- deep
- occult
- unclear
- nebulous
- enigmatical
- questionable
- inscrutable
- uncertain
- arcane
- eerie
- shadowy
- elliptical
- confusing
- fuliginous
- obscurant
- equivocal
- weird
- dim
- foggy
- misty
- fuzzy
- hazy
- complicated
- faint
- shaded
- muddy
- cloudy
- shrouded
- indistinct
- elliptic
- uncanny
- difficult
- cloaked
- clouded
- concealed
- abstruse
- eery
- invisible
- double-edged
- complex
- masked
- disguised
- recondite
- Delphic
- indirect
- beclouded
- inexplicable
- incomprehensible
- undefined
- impenetrable
- indecipherable
- puzzling
- undetermined
- perplexing
- indistinguishable
- indefinite
- shadowlike
- bewildering
- unknowable
- baffling
- mystifying
- unfathomable
- inexact
- intangible
- bedimmed
- obscurantic
- impalpable
- befogged
- confounding
- sphinxlike
- obfuscatory
- noncommittal
- inappreciable
- obtuse
- inexplicit
- unanswerable
- circuitous
- roundabout
- obnubilated
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- clear
- plain
- obvious
- bright
- accessible
- certain
- distinct
- unambiguous
- unequivocal
- understandable
- evident
- strong
- legible
- intelligible
- comprehensible
- sure
- knowable
- nonambiguous
- firm
- pellucid
- direct
- visible
- defined
- determined
- fathomable
- explicit
- definite
- straightforward
- exact
- appreciable
- tangible
- self-explanatory
- self-evident
- palpable
- unmistakable
- blatant
- patent
6
as in ignorant
lacking in education or the knowledge gained from books is known as a dark period in European history when people lived in ignorance, fear, and want Synonyms & Similar Words
- ignorant
- benighted
- simple
- inexperienced
- uneducated
- innocent
- untutored
- unschooled
- untaught
- rude
- illiterate
- green
- nonliterate
- analphabetic
- unread
- naive
- uninstructed
- unlearned
- stupid
- unlettered
- foolish
- lowbrow
- unsophisticated
- unknowledgeable
- dumb
- functionally illiterate
- uncultured
- artless
- idiotic
- uncultivated
- silly
- idiotical
- semiliterate
- moronic
- unskilled
- raw
- naïve
- callow
- philistine
- witless
- untrained
- imbecile
- senseless
- brainless
- innumerate
- imbecilic
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- brilliant
- intelligent
- knowledgeable
- literate
- smart
- educated
- lettered
- experienced
- schooled
- intellectual
- expert
- familiar
- sophisticated
- trained
- erudite
- learned
- scholarly
- cultured
- well-informed
- well-read
- highbrow
- aware
- cultivated
- acquainted
- polymathic
- polyhistoric
- polymath
7
as in evil
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable dark deeds that resulted in the Russian czar being known to history as Ivan the Terrible Synonyms & Similar Words
- evil
- sinful
- immoral
- bad
- vicious
- unlawful
- vile
- wicked
- rotten
- ugly
- wrong
- nefarious
- cruel
- villainous
- obscene
- dirty
- corrupt
- infamous
- unsavory
- iniquitous
- illegal
- offensive
- nasty
- unethical
- cursed
- improper
- unauthorized
- sordid
- unrighteous
- infernal
- naughty
- disreputable
- forbidden
- depraved
- fallen
- sick
- ignoble
- ill
- condemned
- base
- contemptible
- despicable
- prohibited
- loose
- ungodly
- perverted
- miserable
- unhealthy
- objectionable
- atrocious
- unwholesome
- debauched
- degenerate
- pernicious
- mean
- pestilential
- noxious
- low
- dishonest
- debased
- dissolute
- snide
- wretched
- unclean
- reprehensible
- barred
- incorrect
- discouraged
- reprobate
- scrofulous
- unscrupulous
- libertine
- unseemly
- indecent
- vulgar
- censurable
- outlawed
- lousy
- proscribed
- banned
- evil-minded
- low-minded
- blameworthy
- unprincipled
- erring
- defiling
- execrable
- errant
- blamable
- unbecoming
- dishonorable
- indecorous
- curst
- cussed
- disallowed
- interdicted
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- good
- high
- right
- moral
- sublime
- virtuous
- decent
- noble
- righteous
- honest
- ethical
- upright
- just
- honorable
- legal
- lofty
- legitimate
- elevated
- scrupulous
- reputable
- permitted
- white
- permissible
- clean
- proper
- licensed
- decent
- authorized
- correct
- pure
- perfect
- allowed
- approved
- endorsed
- sanctioned
- promoted
- high-minded
- innocent
- legitimate
- supported
- decorous
- principled
- exemplary
- seemly
- law-abiding
- wholesome
- encouraged
- creditable
- guiltless
- blameless
- immaculate
- commendable
- spotless
- chaste
- inoffensive
- incorruptible
- unobjectionable
- worthy
- uncorrupted
- venerable
- irreproachable
- indorsed
- abetted
- unerring
- respected
- unfallen
- esteemed
- lily-white
- squeaky-clean
- upstanding
dark
2 of 2noun
1
as in darkness
a time or place of little or no light I have a bad habit of running into tables in the dark Synonyms & Similar Words
- black
- darkness
- shadows
- night
- blackness
- dusk
- twilight
- gloom
- midnight
- candlelight
- murk
- semidarkness
- shade
- gloaming
- umbra
- blackout
- dimness
- dullness
- mistiness
- murkiness
- somberness
- grayness
- gloominess
- brownout
- paleness
- haziness
- shadiness
- cloudiness
- umbrage
- faintness
- dimout
- fogginess
- half-light
- dulness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- light
- glow
- daylight
- brightness
- glare
- day
- sunlight
- brilliance
- moonlight
- blaze
- lightness
- starlight
- sunshine
- radiance
- shine
- luminescence
- luminosity
- effulgence
- luminance
- radiancy
- luminousness
- incandescence
2
as in night
the time from sunset to sunrise when there is no visible sunlight we were going to wait until dark to go trick-or-treating Synonyms & Similar Words
- night
- darkness
- nighttime
- midnight
- dusk
- twilight
- evening
- nightfall
- gloaming
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- daytime
- dawn
- day
- sunrise
- morning
- daybreak
- forenoon
- midday
- afternoon
- sunup
- noon
- noonday
- noontide
- high noon
- noontime
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of dark are ambiguous, cryptic, enigmatic, equivocal, obscure, and vague. While all these words mean "not clearly understandable," dark implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous or sinister suggestion.
muttered dark hints of revenge
The meanings of ambiguous and dark largely overlap; however, ambiguous applies to language capable of more than one interpretation.
an ambiguous directive
While in some cases nearly identical to dark, cryptic implies a purposely concealed meaning.
cryptic hints of hidden treasure
The synonyms enigmatic and dark are sometimes interchangeable, but enigmatic stresses a puzzling, mystifying quality.
enigmatic occult writings
The words equivocal and dark are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, equivocal applies to language left open to differing interpretations with the intention of deceiving or evading.
moral precepts with equivocal phrasing
In some situations, the words obscure and dark are roughly equivalent. However, obscure implies a hiding or veiling of meaning through some inadequacy of expression or withholding of full knowledge.
obscure poems
While the synonyms vague and dark are close in meaning, vague implies a lack of clear formulation due to inadequate conception or consideration.
a vague sense of obligation