darken
verb
dark·en ˈdär-kən 
darkened; darkening ˈdär-kə-niŋ
intransitive verb
1
: to grow dark : become obscured
the skies were darkening
2
: to become gloomy
his mood darkened
transitive verb
1
: to make dark
2
: to make less clear : obscure
the financial crisis darkened the future of the company
3
: taint, tarnish
darkened his reputation
4
: to cast a gloom over
5
: to make of darker color
darkener
ˈdär-kə-nər
noun 
Synonyms
- gloom
- glower
- lower
- lour
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The sky darkened and it started to rain. Her face darkens to a deep red when she gets angry. The wood will darken as it ages. The bad news darkened his mood. The last days of her life were darkened by illness. His mood darkened after he heard the bad news. See More
Recent Examples on the Web Refrigerate the stuffed poblanos and the sauce separately for up to 3 days; the sauce may darken over time. 
Bill Esparza, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2022 When the feature is active, any wallpapers with a depth effect will be removed and the screen will darken. Chris Smith, BGR, 4 Sep. 2022 The plane’s interior boasted a better cabin climate to reduce jet lag, big overhead bins and large windows that darken with the touch of a button rather than a pull-down shade. Andrew Tangel, WSJ, 26 June 2022 When the vegetables begin to darken just slightly at the edges, take the pot off the heat. Kitty Greenwald, WSJ, 17 Aug. 2022 The residents of Kharkiv were required by emergency decree to darken their homes at night, so as not to provide Russian planes or artillerists with targets. James Verini, New York Times, 19 May 2022 Add the onion, season with 1/4 teaspoon of salt and several grinds of black pepper and cook, stirring, until the onion starts to darken at the edges, about 6 minutes. Washington Post, 21 Dec. 2021 The outlook for the rest of the year may darken further. New York Times, 29 Apr. 2022 He's only allowed to write stories that will darken the world. Samantha Highfill, EW.com, 18 July 2022 See More
Bill Esparza, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2022 When the feature is active, any wallpapers with a depth effect will be removed and the screen will darken. Chris Smith, BGR, 4 Sep. 2022 The plane’s interior boasted a better cabin climate to reduce jet lag, big overhead bins and large windows that darken with the touch of a button rather than a pull-down shade. Andrew Tangel, WSJ, 26 June 2022 When the vegetables begin to darken just slightly at the edges, take the pot off the heat. Kitty Greenwald, WSJ, 17 Aug. 2022 The residents of Kharkiv were required by emergency decree to darken their homes at night, so as not to provide Russian planes or artillerists with targets. James Verini, New York Times, 19 May 2022 Add the onion, season with 1/4 teaspoon of salt and several grinds of black pepper and cook, stirring, until the onion starts to darken at the edges, about 6 minutes. Washington Post, 21 Dec. 2021 The outlook for the rest of the year may darken further. New York Times, 29 Apr. 2022 He's only allowed to write stories that will darken the world. Samantha Highfill, EW.com, 18 July 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Phrases Containing darken
Kids Definition
darken
verb
dark·en ˈdär-kən
darkened; darkening
1
: to make or grow dark or darker
… in three months the long Arctic night that lasted for sixty-six days would darken the top of the world. Jean Craighead George, Julie of the Wolves
Jean Craighead George, Julie of the Wolves2
: to make or become gloomy
Her mood darkened with the news.
darken
verb
1
as in to frown
to take on a gloomy or forbidding look his face slowly darkened as we told him the sad news Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- frown
- stare
- gloom
- glower
- scowl
- lower
- rage
- pout
- lour
- glare
- anger
- brood
- threaten
- sulk
- steam
- intimidate
- bristle
- fume
- storm
- mope
- pet
- menace
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lighten
- brighten
- cheer (up)
- perk (up)
2
as in to blacken
to grow dark the sky darkened as a storm moved in Synonyms & Similar Words
- blacken
- fade
- dusk
- dim
- close in
- wane
- black out
- gloom
- lower
- lour
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lighten
- light
- brighten
- glow
- shine
- beam
- dawn
- radiate
3
as in to obscure
to make dark, dim, or indistinct years of accumulated grime have darkened the painting until it can barely be seen Synonyms & Similar Words
- obscure
- blur
- blacken
- dim
- overshadow
- cloud
- shadow
- overcast
- mist
- blear
- haze
- fog
- becloud
- shroud
- bedim
- shade
- conceal
- hide
- obliterate
- overcloud
- eclipse
- befog
- cover
- dislimn
- fuzz (up)
- screen
- mask
- blot out
- curtain
- cloak
- camouflage
- veil
- adumbrate
- disguise
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lighten
- brighten
- illuminate
- light (up)
- reveal
- illumine
- expose
- uncover
- unveil
4
as in to mar
to affect slightly with something morally bad or undesirable the scandal darkened his otherwise sterling reputation Synonyms & Similar Words
- mar
- stain
- spoil
- taint
- poison
- tarnish
- touch
- blacken
- degrade
- distort
- vitiate
- blemish
- smear
- discredit
- discolor
- pollute
- blur
- smudge
- sully
- dirty
- soil
- corrupt
- cloud
- tar
- shame
- disgrace
- lower
- color
- debase
- besmirch
- subvert
- demean
- smut
- sink
- dishonor
- cheapen
- smirch
- besmear
- pervert
- begrime
- debauch
- abase
- deprave
- foul
- demoralize
- twist
- bastardize
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- purify
- cleanse
- elevate
- magnify
- glorify
- uplift
- dignify
- ennoble
- enshrine
- hallow