dark energy

noun

: a hypothetical form of energy that produces a force that opposes gravity and is thought to be the cause of the accelerating expansion of the universe

Examples of dark energy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The space telescope's primary science goals include studying dark energy, mapping dark matter and discovering thousands of exoplanets via gravitational microlensing, in which a massive foreground object bends the light of a background star, temporarily magnifying it like a lens. Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 1 Jan. 2026 In April 2024, a map of the cosmos released by the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) hinted that dark energy, the repulsive agent that’s driving the expansion of space, has been weakening over time. Quanta Magazine, 17 Dec. 2025 The most abundant ingredients in the universe are dark matter and dark energy, both of which are poorly understood. Chris Impey, The Conversation, 4 Dec. 2025 This study is the first to map intrinsic alignment in universes where dark matter and dark energy interact, giving future telescopes important tools to avoid such errors. Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dark energy

Word History

First Known Use

1998, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dark energy was in 1998

Cite this Entry

“Dark energy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dark%20energy. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.

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