darken
B1Neutral to formal. Common in written and spoken English.
Definition
Meaning
To make something become dark or darker in colour, or to become dark.
To make or become gloomy, angry, threatening, or obscure.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Used both literally (change in light/colour) and metaphorically (mood, situation). The causative sense ('make dark') is slightly more common than the inchoative ('become dark').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling differences align with general UK/US conventions (e.g., colour/color in context).
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparatively equal frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] darkens (intransitive)[NP] darkens [NP] (transitive)[NP] darkens with [Emotion/Substance]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “darken my door (again) (do not come back)”
- “never darken my door again”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Metaphorical use possible, e.g., 'The economic outlook has darkened.'
Academic
Used in literature (mood, symbolism) and sciences (e.g., photography, describing chemical reactions).
Everyday
Common for weather, lighting, and changes in mood or appearance.
Technical
In photography ('darken the exposure'), computing ('darken a layer'), and chemistry.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Please could you darken the room for the film?
- His expression darkened when he heard the news.
- The sky darkened ominously before the storm.
American English
- Can you darken the room for the movie?
- Her face darkened with anger.
- The wood will darken as it ages.
adjective
British English
- This is a darkening shade of blue.
- We noticed a darkening sky.
American English
- He applied a darkening agent to the leather.
- The darkening clouds signaled a change.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The room is too bright. Let's darken it.
- In winter, it darkens very early.
- She used a filter to darken the photo.
- His mood darkened after the argument.
- The scandal darkened his reputation permanently.
- Protesters vowed to darken the doors of parliament until their demands were met.
- The historian argued that the invasion darkened the cultural landscape for a generation.
- A single unethical act can darken an otherwise brilliant career.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of DARK + the verb suffix -EN, which means 'to become or make' (like widen, soften). So, darken = to make or become dark.
Conceptual Metaphor
MORE IS UP, LESS IS DOWN / BAD IS DARK, GOOD IS LIGHT. Problems or negative emotions 'darken' a situation, increasing their 'weight' or presence.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating 'темнеть' only as 'darken' when referring to getting dark outside; 'get dark' is more common (e.g., 'It's getting dark').
- The idiom 'darken my door' is a fixed expression; a word-for-word translation would be nonsensical.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'dark' as a verb where 'darken' is needed (e.g., 'I will dark the room' is incorrect).
- Overusing the transitive form in contexts where the intransitive is more natural (e.g., 'The room darkened' vs. 'Someone darkened the room').
Practice
Quiz
In the idiom 'never darken my door again', what does 'darken' metaphorically mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is regular: darken - darkened - darkened.
Yes, e.g., 'His hair darkened as he grew older.'
'Darken' means to become darker in any shade. 'Blacken' specifically means to become black, and it has a stronger negative metaphorical use (e.g., to blacken someone's name = to ruin their reputation).
It is neutral. It is appropriate in both everyday and formal contexts, depending on the usage (literal vs. metaphorical).
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