darken

American

[dahr-kuhn] / ˈdɑr kən /

verb (used with object)

to make dark or darker.
to make obscure.
to make less white or clear in color.
to make gloomy; sadden.

He darkened the festivities by his presence.

Synonyms:

deject, blacken, dispirit, depress
to make blind.

verb (used without object)

to become dark or darker.
to become obscure.
to become less white or clear in color.
to grow clouded, as with gloom or anger.
to become blind.

idioms

darken someone's door, to come to visit; make an appearance.

Never darken my door again!

darken British

/ ˈdɑːkən /

verb

to make or become dark or darker
to make or become gloomy, angry, or sad

his mood darkened
(usually used with a negative) to visit someone

never darken my door again!

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

darkener noun
undarken verb (used with object)
well-darkened adjective

Etymology

Origin of darken

First recorded in 1250–1300, darken is from the Middle English word derknen. See dark, -en ¹

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023