darkened; darkening
ˈdär-kə-niŋ 
1
: to grow dark : become obscured
the skies were darkening
2
: to become gloomy
his mood darkened
1
: to make dark
2
: to make less clear : obscure
the financial crisis darkened the future of the company
4
: to cast a gloom over
5
: to make of darker color
Examples of darken in a Sentence
The sky darkened and it started to rain.
Her face darkens to a deep red when she gets angry.
The wood will darken as it ages.
The bad news darkened his mood.
The last days of her life were darkened by illness.
His mood darkened after he heard the bad news.
Recent Examples on the Web
Attacks on celebration The latest anti-DEI attack (House Bill 1001/Senate Bill 1134) to darken the state Legislature’s doors was envisioned, at least partially, as an official antidote to joy.
—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
The technology works by altering how light interacts with the textile so that the fabric doesn’t visibly darken when wet.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 5 Mar. 2026
The city largely shut down as residents and tourists ran for cover and plumes of smoke from fires darkened the Pacific vista.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
The image was captured shortly after Earth's curved inner shadow began its slow journey across the lunar disk, darkening the lunar seas sprawling across the western portion of its surface.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for darken
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Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
The technology works by altering how light interacts with the textile so that the fabric doesn’t visibly darken when wet.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 5 Mar. 2026
The city largely shut down as residents and tourists ran for cover and plumes of smoke from fires darkened the Pacific vista.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
The image was captured shortly after Earth's curved inner shadow began its slow journey across the lunar disk, darkening the lunar seas sprawling across the western portion of its surface.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for darken
Cite this Entry
“Darken.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/darken. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
darken
verb
dark·en
ˈdär-kən
darkened; darkening
ˈdärk-(ə-)niŋ
1
: to make or grow dark or darker
the sky darkened
2
: to make or become gloomy or forbidding
her face darkened in anger
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