darken

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'darken' is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means to make something darker or to become darker in color or tone. Example: The sky began to darken as the sun set behind the mountains. She used a black marker to darken the shadows in her drawing. He closed the curtains to darken the room for a nap. The mood in the room began to darken as the argument escalated.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I prefer neither to romanticise nor to darken my experience.

The Guardian

As a result, multimillion-dollar apartments in the sky will darken parts of the park a mile away.

The Guardian

Either the weakness outside the Anglo-Saxon world proves temporary, or it will spook financial markets and darken the outlook everywhere.

The Economist

Mr Carvalho, who has a knack for getting out-of-consensus forecasts right, reckons that, as the skies darken, growth will slump to just 3% in 2009.

The Economist

Montenegro uses the euro, Serbia the shaky dinar.Nebojsa Medojevic, a pro-independence economist in Montenegro, said that by giving heart to the republic's anti-westerners (who tend to be pro-Serbian) the new federal deal will darken the investment climate and increase the risk that "crony capitalism" will continue to flourish in the coastal republic.Perhaps that is too gloomy a prognosis.

The Economist

Then, when snow or rain wash them onto an ice floe, they darken its surface and thus cause it to melt faster.Reducing soot (and also ozone, an industrial pollutant that acts as a greenhouse gas) would not stop the summer sea ice disappearing, but it might delay the process by a decade or two.

The Economist

Yet if it holds back from loosening monetary policy, the region's economic prospects will darken further.These tensions are inevitable as long as the actions of the central bank are a substitute for more explicit political progress on integration.

The Economist

"If you are going to eat shit, don't nibble," he says, in a phrase that should be immortalised in corporate-finance textbooks.Desperate for fresh capital, Mr Horowitz manages to take Loudcloud public, only to see its prospects darken again in the aftermath of the 2001 terrorist attacks in America.

The Economist

THE outlook for the already troubled Doha round of multilateral trade talks will darken considerably on March 31st.

The Economist

The set is synchronised with battery-powered glasses that alternately darken each lens, so each eye sees only the image it is supposed to see.

The Economist

A YEAR into America's recovery the view backwards continues to sharpen and darken.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "darken" to describe emotional states, consider synonyms like "gloom" or "overshadow" for nuanced meaning. For example, instead of "the news darkened her mood", try "the news overshadowed her mood".

Common error

Avoid using "darken" when a more suitable term exists for metaphorical darkness. For instance, instead of "darken the discussion", consider "cloud the discussion" or "complicate the discussion" for enhanced clarity.

Linguistic Context

Darken primarily functions as a verb. Ludwig AI shows it’s used to describe the action of making something darker, either literally (reducing light) or metaphorically (making something more gloomy). The examples illustrate its versatility in describing both physical and emotional states.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The verb "darken" is a versatile word used to describe the process of making something darker, whether literally or metaphorically. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and frequently used across varied contexts, especially in News & Media and Encyclopedias. While the word is generally used neutrally, it can add nuance to descriptions of physical environments and emotional states. When writing, consider alternative words like "blacken" or "overshadow" to better fit the context. Avoid using "darken" in abstract contexts where other terms provide more clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make darker

Focuses on the action of causing something to become darker, emphasizing the change in state.

blacken

Suggests a complete or near-complete lack of light, emphasizing darkness or moral depravity.

become shadowy

Emphasizes the presence of shadows, suggesting an increase in darkness and possibly mystery or fear.

grow dim

Implies a gradual reduction in light or brightness, often used to describe fading light.

diminish light

Directly refers to the reduction of light, useful in technical or descriptive contexts.

overshadow

Indicates that something is looming and threatening to make something less pleasant or positive.

cloud over

Describes how something can make a situation be not so clear or more complicated.

obscure

Indicates something being hidden or unclear, not necessarily related to light levels, but possibly to understanding or clarity.

gloom

Indicates a state of partial or total darkness associated with sadness.

shade

Refers to a place in partial darkness or protection from direct sunlight.

FAQs

How can I use "darken" in a sentence?

You can use "darken" to describe a physical change, like "The clouds "darken" the sky", or a metaphorical shift, like "The news "darkened" the mood".

What can I say instead of "darken"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "make darker", "grow dim", or "overshadow".

Is it correct to say "darken the prospects"?

Yes, "darken the prospects" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression. It means to make the future outlook seem less promising or more negative.

What's the difference between "darken" and "obscure"?

"Darken" primarily refers to a reduction in light or an increase in darkness, while "obscure" suggests making something unclear, vague, or hidden. While related, they aren't always interchangeable.