dark

adjective

ˈdärk 

darker; darkest

1

a

: 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

2

a

: 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

3

a

: arising from or showing evil traits or desires : evil

the dark powers that lead to war

b

: dismal, gloomy

had a dark view of the future

c

: lacking knowledge or culture : unenlightened

a dark period in history

d

: relating to grim or depressing circumstances

dark humor

4

a

: not clear to the understanding

b

: not known or explored because of remoteness

the darkest reaches of space

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

darkish

ˈdär-kish 

adjective

darkly adverb

Synonyms of dark

• dim
• murky
• black

Choose the Right Synonym for dark

obscure, dark, vague, enigmatic, cryptic, ambiguous, equivocal mean not clearly understandable.

obscure implies a hiding or veiling of meaning through some inadequacy of expression or withholding of full knowledge.

obscure poems

dark implies an imperfect or clouded revelation often with ominous or sinister suggestion.

muttered dark hints of revenge

vague implies a lack of clear formulation due to inadequate conception or consideration.

a vague sense of obligation

enigmatic stresses a puzzling, mystifying quality.

enigmatic occult writings

cryptic implies a purposely concealed meaning.

cryptic hints of hidden treasure

ambiguous applies to language capable of more than one interpretation.

an ambiguous directive

equivocal applies to language left open to differing interpretations with the intention of deceiving or evading.

moral precepts with equivocal phrasing

Examples of dark in a Sentence

She sat in the dark room alone.

Soon it will be dark enough to see the stars.

It was a dark and stormy night.

Dark clouds of smoke were coming from the windows.

She's wearing a dark suit to the interview.

a man wearing dark clothing

You've got dark circles under your eyes this morning.

dark spots on the skin

Recent Examples on the Web

Today, supposedly sophisticated moderns have laundered Moloch’s dark faith into militarism, imperialism, and capitalism. —Literary Hub, 3 June 2026

Mahogany floorboards, dark blue curtains, marble bathrooms, and big, big showers. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

Keep your bedroom cool and dark. —Sharon Brandwein, USA Today, 2 June 2026

That biography took the form of a dark romance between the self-lacerating Louis and his fiercely loving but brutal maker, Lestat, filtered through the former’s brooding subjectivity. —Judy Berman, Time, 2 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English derk, from Old English deorc; akin to Old High German tarchannen to hide

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing dark

• as black/dark as pitch
• a stab in the dark
• cast a (dark) cloud
• dark academia
• dark adaptation
• dark age
• dark chocolate
• dark continent
• dark energy
• dark-eyed junco
• dark field
• dark-field microscope
• dark glasses
• dark horse
• dark kitchen
• dark lantern
• dark matter
• dark meat
• dark reaction
• dark roast
• dark-skinned
• dark web
• go dark
• in the dark
• kept in the dark
• pitch-dark
• shot in the dark
• the dark
• the dark ages
• whistle in the dark

Rhymes for dark

• arc
• ark
• bark
• barque
• hark
• lark
• marc
• mark
• marque
• narc
• quark
• shark

Kids Definition

dark

1 of 2 adjective

ˈdärk 

1

a

: being without light or without much light

in winter it gets dark early

b

: not giving off light

the dark side of the moon

2

: not light in color

a dark suit

dark blue

3

: not bright and cheerful : gloomy

look on the dark side of things

4

: being without knowledge and culture : ignorant

a dark period in history

5

: secret entry 1 sense 1a

kept their plans dark

6

: not clear to the understanding

puzzled us with his dark sayings

darkish

ˈdär-kish 

adjective

darkly

-klē

adverb

darkness

ˈdärk-nəs

noun

dark

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: absence of light : darkness

b

: a place or time of little or no light : night, nightfall

get home before dark

2

: a dark or deep color