dark
A1Neutral; used in all registers from informal to formal.
Definition
Meaning
Lacking or having very little light; the opposite of light or bright.
Referring to mystery, evil, secrecy, sadness, or deep colour; also, in cinematography, the period when filming is not occurring.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an adjective, but can function as a noun (the dark). The meaning extends from literal absence of light to figurative concepts of ignorance, evil, or obscurity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Very few. 'Dark' as a noun (e.g., 'afraid of the dark') is equally common. The phrase 'dark horse' is used in both varieties.
Connotations
Largely identical. Both associate 'dark' with negativity, mystery, or the unknown.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
It is getting dark.The room was dark.She has dark hair.He kept his past dark.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a shot in the dark”
- “in the dark (about something)”
- “dark horse”
- “whistle in the dark”
- “before/after dark”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used literally. Figuratively: 'dark data' (unused data), 'dark pool' (private financial exchange).
Academic
Used in history ('Dark Ages'), physics ('dark matter'), and literary analysis ('dark themes').
Everyday
Very common for describing weather, time, colours, rooms, and mood.
Technical
In photography/film: 'dark room'; in computing: 'dark web', 'dark mode'; in brewing: 'dark ale'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- As night darkens, the stars appear.
American English
- The sky darkened before the storm hit.
adverb
British English
- The film ended darkly, with no hope for the protagonist.
American English
- He joked darkly about the situation.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The room is very dark.
- I don't like the dark.
- She has dark brown eyes.
- It gets dark early in the winter.
- He was wearing a dark blue suit.
- The movie had a very dark ending.
- Archaeologists are still in the dark about the purpose of the structure.
- His jokes often had a dark sense of humour.
- The dark clouds promised rain.
- The report shed light on the company's dark financial practices.
- She descended into a dark period of depression after the loss.
- He is a dark horse candidate who might win the nomination.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a park at night – it's DARK. Both words rhyme.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNKNOWN IS DARK (e.g., 'in the dark about the plans'); EVIL IS DARK (e.g., 'dark deeds'); SADNESS IS DARK (e.g., 'dark mood').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'тёмный', which covers most meanings. Note: 'dark hair' is 'тёмные волосы', not 'чёрные волосы' unless truly black. 'Dark' as a noun ('the dark') translates as 'темнота'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'dark' as a verb incorrectly (e.g., 'He darked the room' is wrong; use 'He darkened the room'). Confusing 'dark' with 'black' (all black is dark, but not all dark is black).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following uses of 'dark' is metaphorical?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, not always. While often associated with negative things (evil, sadness), it can be neutral (dark hair, dark chocolate) or positive (a 'dark horse' is an unexpected success, 'dark mode' on screens is preferred by many).
'Dark' is primarily an adjective describing a state. 'Darken' is a verb meaning to make or become dark. You can say 'The sky darkened' or 'He darkened the room by closing the curtains.'
Yes. When used with the definite article 'the', it becomes a noun meaning 'absence of light' (e.g., 'Are you afraid of the dark?').
It means after the sun has set, during the night-time hours (e.g., 'The park is closed after dark').
Collections
Part of a collection
Basic Adjectives
A1 · 46 words · Fundamental describing words used every day.