darkness

noun

dark·​ness ˈdärk-nəs 

: the quality or state of being dark: such as

a

: the total or near total absence of light

There was almost no light when he opened his eyes again. The darkness of night was thick and for a moment he began to panic again.

—Gary Paulsen

b(1)

: the quality of being dark in shade or color

the darkness of the old wooden floor

the darkness of these blues and greens

: dark color or colors

In O'Donnell's paintings, darkness pre-dominates. If there are bright colors, they are painted over a deep-hued ground.

—Richard Kalina

(2)

: the quality of being dark in complexion

Other kids teased him mercilessly for the darkness of his skin and his beanpole physique.

—Jeffri Chadiha

c(1)

: a gloomy or depressed state or tone

I've tried a number of different mental techniques, mostly prayer, visualization, and meditation, but nothing has worked to lighten my darkness.

—Will Manley

And the other darkness was a tremendous sorrow, a deep sadness that her mother was dead and that the princess could, now, only talk to her in her dreams.

—Kate DiCamillo

What, I wondered, did the good man of the cloth make of the reckless humor, the anger and the darkness of those late works?

—Russell Banks

(2)

: evil

From the same source he drew the picture of a heavenly visitor, a god who comes to earth to impart true knowledge … and save humanity from the powers of darkness.

—J. Louis Martyn

(3)

: a lack of knowledge or enlightenment

In 1492, the intellectual darkness that shrouded Europe for centuries was slowly, almost grudgingly lifting.

—Bob Fisher

Synonyms of darkness

• dark
• shadows
• blackness
• night
• dusk
• black
• twilight
• gloom

Examples of darkness in a Sentence

the raiding party snuck up under cover of darkness

the darkness of certain passages in the Book of Revelation

let's wait for darkness before telling ghost stories

the darkness of that period of my life is best forgotten

Recent Examples on the Web

The Nuremberg rallies were simply political stage plays, with music from Wagner, drums, symmetrical marching formations, red flags, and gatherings often held in darkness to heighten the mood. —Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026

In this delightful piece of armchair naturalism, Henion’s goal is to change our vilification of darkness, to see it instead as a restorative balm, and to stoke curiosity about nocturnal landscapes and creatures. —The Know, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026

These ten compositions depend on lights in darkness, most commonly generated by candles, by the moon, or—as in the most famous painting here, An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump (circa 1767)—by both. —Julian Bell, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026

Outside, flames streaked across the darkness. —Lizzie Johnson, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English derknesse, going back to Old English deorcnysse, from deorc dark entry 1 + -nysse -ness

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing darkness

• plunge into darkness
• under (the) cover of darkness/night