blacken
B2Neutral
Definition
Meaning
To make something black or dark; to become black or dark.
To damage someone's reputation; to make something seem worse than it is.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Denotes both a physical change (colour) and a metaphorical one (reputation). The metaphorical use is often part of the phrase 'blacken someone's name/character/reputation'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is consistent.
Connotations
Similar connotations in both varieties: the physical sense is neutral; the reputational sense is negative.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in written contexts than in everyday speech in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[sb/sth] blackens [sth][sth] blackensblacken [sb]'s nameVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “blacken someone's eye”
- “blacken someone's name/character”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Potentially in PR/crisis management: 'The scandal could blacken the company's image.'
Academic
Used in historical/literary contexts describing processes or reputational damage.
Everyday
Most common for cooking mishaps (burnt food) or discussing rumours/slander.
Technical
In metallurgy or chemistry, describing surface oxidation or treatment.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The fire began to blacken the ceiling.
- He tried to blacken his rival's reputation in the press.
- Leave the peppers under the grill until the skins blacken.
American English
- The smoke blackened the building's facade.
- The opposition is trying to blacken the mayor's name.
- The metal will blacken if exposed to that chemical.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The toast will blacken if you leave it too long.
- The sky blackened before the storm.
- The flames blackened the ancient walls.
- She didn't want to blacken her family's name.
- Politicians often use the media to blacken their opponents' characters.
- The silver had blackened with tarnish over the decades.
- The biography sought not to blacken the leader's reputation but to present a balanced view.
- Sulphur in the atmosphere can blacken painted surfaces and corrode metal.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BLACK pan that you've left on the hob too long – it BLACKENs.
Conceptual Metaphor
BAD IS DARK / REPUTATION IS A SURFACE (that can be stained).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque from verbs meaning 'to black' (чернить) in the reputational sense, as it may sound overly literary/dramatic. The physical sense is direct.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'blacken' with a colour other than black (e.g., 'The sky blackened to grey'). Confusing 'blacken' (process) with 'black' (state).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'blacken' used metaphorically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Most often yes, but it can describe the process of becoming much darker, not necessarily pure black (e.g., 'The bruise blackened').
'Blacken' implies a target colour of black, often with negative connotations of damage or soot. 'Darken' is more general, just meaning less light or a deeper shade.
Extremely rarely. Even in cooking (e.g., blackened fish), it describes a charred appearance which is a specific culinary style, not inherently positive. The reputational use is always negative.
The process is 'blackening'. There isn't a direct agent noun; you would use 'something that blackens'.