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
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
darkly
adverb
1
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
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 BoothExamples of dark in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
Apply a baking soda paste, or, for darker or stubborn stains, a paste of baking soda and white vinegar.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2025
Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
The advisory recommended American travelers not travel on roads between cities after dark.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2025
Sheryl Devore, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025
Those deer, which have changed from the color of milk chocolate to dark, break through our makeshift deterrents anyway and eat the yew, euonymus, arborvitae, and this winter, even the holly.
—Daryln Brewer Hoffstot Kristian Thacker, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dark
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
My grandmother’s thin hair lay in wisps around her forehead and her eye sockets were dark purple.
—Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
Apply a baking soda paste, or, for darker or stubborn stains, a paste of baking soda and white vinegar.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2025
Noun
The 67-year-old man was able to swim ashore to Knight Island and took shelter in the caretaker's house after dark.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
The advisory recommended American travelers not travel on roads between cities after dark.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
The light to dark pink blossoms of the phlox intermingle with the bold yellow petals and dark centers of the black-eyed Susans.
—Sheryl Devore, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025
Those deer, which have changed from the color of milk chocolate to dark, break through our makeshift deterrents anyway and eat the yew, euonymus, arborvitae, and this winter, even the holly.
—Daryln Brewer Hoffstot Kristian Thacker, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dark
Cite this Entry
“Dark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dark. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dark
1 of 2 adjective1
a
: being without light or without much light
in winter it gets dark early
b
: not giving off light
the dark side of the moon
2
: not light in color
a dark suit
dark blue
3
: not bright and cheerful : gloomy
look on the dark side of things
4
: being without knowledge and culture : ignorant
a dark period in history
5
: secret entry 1 sense 1a
kept their plans dark
6
: not clear to the understanding
puzzled us with his dark sayings
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