darker; darkest
Definition of dark
(Entry 1 of 3)
1a
: devoid or partially devoid of light : not receiving, reflecting, transmitting, or radiating light
a dark room
b
: transmitting only a portion of light
dark glasses
2a
: wholly or partially black
dark clothing
b
of a color
: of low or very low lightness
dark blue
c
: being less light in color than other substances of the same kind
dark rum
3a
: arising from or showing evil traits or desires : evil
the dark powers that lead to war
c
: lacking knowledge or culture : unenlightened
a dark period in history
d
: relating to grim or depressing circumstances
dark humor
4a
: not clear to the understanding
b
: not known or explored because of remoteness
the darkest reaches of the continent
5
: intense in color, coloring, or pigmentation : not light or fair
dark hair a dark complexion
6
: secret
kept his plans dark
7
: possessing depth and richness
a dark voice
8
: closed to the public
the theater is dark in the summer
dark
nounDefinition of dark (Entry 2 of 3)
b
: absence of light : darkness
afraid of the dark
2a
: a color of low or very low lightness : a dark or deep color
—usually plural a painter who uses a lot of darks
b
darks plural
: clothing that is dark in color
separated the darks and the lights before starting the laundry
in the dark
go dark
1
: in secrecy
most of his dealings were done in the dark
2
: in ignorance
kept the public in the dark about the agreement
1
: to become dark
The room suddenly went dark.
2a
: to stop operating or functioning : to shut down
Most Salt Lake City restaurants go dark on Sundays …— Kurt Repanshek Andy Beal was one of 220 million subscribers to Skype … who saw the service go dark on Aug. 16.— Stephen Baker In the end, the heart stops, the cells die, the neurons go dark …— Joshua Ferris
b
communications
: to stop broadcasting or transmitting : to go off-line
The roosters were just beginning to crow in that lost hour before dawn when Lt. Col. Steve Russell of the Army's 4th Infantry Division ordered his men to "go dark" and roll their Humvees up to the edge of a lone farmhouse here.— William Booth
dark
verb
darked; darking; darks
Test Your Vocabulary
Name That Food
-
- Name these cookies!

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share dark
Time Traveler for dark
The first known use of dark was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century