it grew dark

USAGE SUMMARY

"it grew dark" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to describe the change in lighting as day turns to night. Here is an example: As the sun began to set, the sky was painted with vibrant shades of pink and orange. Soon, the bright colors faded and it grew dark, enveloping the land in a blanket of deep blue.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

As the ash cloud covered the sky, it grew dark; in the darkness, which lasted 20 30 min, climbers and staff who found shelter in the huts heard noises caused by sandy material and blocks hitting the roofs, walls, and windows of the buildings violently and intermittently.

Earth, Planets and Space

Outside, it grew dark.

The New Yorker

Outside, it grew dark and almost chilly.

The New Yorker

We stayed there as it grew dark.

The Guardian

Now in the autumn it grew dark earlier every day.

The New Yorker

It grew dark and we moved inside a small building.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

In the 1970s, it grew darker, starker, brainier, more hermetic and more psychologically fraught.

The New York Times - Arts

It grew darker and darker, and at last it dawned on me that this was an eclipse of the sun, a phenomenon I had never before witnessed.

The Guardian

But it grew darker as it went along, and in Season 2 it has shifted to hard-boiled Hollywood addiction story, all sunsets and nighttime drives, tears and stone-cold lies.

The New York Times

As his wife tells the story, it grows dark outside, they think of their children and wish the world were better than it is.

The New Yorker

It grows dark as we speed on to Prague, so dark we can barely see the road, only the bare silhouettes of vehicles, the kind of darkness where you glance to look at the outside world and only your reflection is visible.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the surrounding context to enhance the impact of "it grew dark". Adding sensory details (e.g. the air grew cooler, the birds quieted) provides a richer image for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "it grew dark" repeatedly within a short passage. Instead, vary your descriptions with related phrases like "night fell" or focus on specific visual or sensory details of the changing light.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it grew dark" functions as an intransitive clause, describing a change in state related to lighting conditions. Ludwig's examples show its usage to denote the arrival of night or a decrease in illumination.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

16%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it grew dark" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to depict the transition to darkness. As highlighted by Ludwig, this expression appears most often in news and media, academia and science contexts. While versatile, writers should vary their descriptions to avoid redundancy. Ludwig's AI confirms its validity and offers useful examples for effective usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it became night

A simpler, more direct statement of the change.

darkness fell

Focuses on the arrival of darkness as an event.

night descended

Emphasizes the encompassing nature of night.

twilight arrived

Highlights the transitional period before complete darkness.

daylight faded

Focuses on the disappearance of light.

the sun set

Specifies the cause of the darkness.

dusk settled

Suggests a peaceful transition to darkness.

evening approached

Emphasizes the progression towards darkness.

the light diminished

Focuses on the reduction of light intensity.

shadows lengthened

Describes the visual effect of diminishing light.

FAQs

How can I use "it grew dark" in a sentence?

Use "it grew dark" to describe the transition from daylight to nighttime. For example: "We hurried back to the cabin as "it grew dark"."

What is a more descriptive alternative to "it grew dark"?

Instead of simply stating "it grew dark", you could use phrases like "darkness fell" or "night descended" to create a more vivid image.

Is there a difference between "it grew dark" and "it became dark"?

While both phrases are grammatically correct, "it grew dark" implies a gradual change, whereas "it became dark" can suggest a more sudden shift. The best choice depends on the specific context.

What words usually follow the phrase "it grew dark"?

Common follow-up descriptions include sensory details like "it grew dark and cold", or actions taken in response to the change, such as "it grew dark, so we lit a fire".