darn

1 of 5

verb (1)

ˈdärn 

darned; darning; darns

transitive verb

1

: to mend with interlacing stitches

2

: to embroider by filling in with long running or interlacing stitches

intransitive verb

: to do darning

darner noun

darn

2 of 5

noun (1)

: a place that has been darned

a sweater full of darns

darn

3 of 5

adjective or adverb

ˈdärn 

variants or less commonly durn

ˈdərn 

: damned

darn

4 of 5

verb (2)

variants or less commonly durn

darned also durned

: damn

darned

ˈdärn(d) 

adjective or adverb

or less commonly durned

ˈdərn(d) 

darn

5 of 5

noun (2)

variants or less commonly durn

: damn

Synonyms of darn

Verb (1)

• stitch
• suture
• repair
• sew

Adjective or adverb

• freaking
• cursed

Noun (2)

• damn
• hoot

Examples of darn in a Sentence

Verb (1)

in the old days, holes in socks had to be darned by hand

Adjective or adverb

I can't seem to tie this darn shoe

Noun (2)

nobody gave a darn about us when we were poor, but now that we are rich, we have friends we never knew about!

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Much is made of the iconography of the character of Mary Poppins — one of cinema's most famous, hyperbole be darned — but perhaps not enough is owed to how Julie Andrews, on the cusp of 30, simultaneously brought green charisma and decades of wisdom to the magical, practical nanny. —Darren Franich, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Mar. 2026

If only that darned Joseph Stalin hadn’t come along. —Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026

Adjective or adverb

Just get the darn curler and invoke Hathor! —Fiona Landers, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026

Helles Real won this whole darn thing in 2023, so that 2 seed is well-earned. —Rasputin Todd, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

perhaps from French dialect darner

Adjective or adverb

euphemism

First Known Use

Verb (1)

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1720, in the meaning defined above

Adjective Or Adverb

1789, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1781, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1840, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing darn

• care a darn
• darn near
• darn well
• give a darn
• not worth a darn

Rhymes for darn

• arn
• barn
• barne
• carn
• garn
• karn
• skarn
• yarn

Kids Definition

darn

1 of 4 verb

ˈdärn 

: to mend with interlacing stitches

darn socks

darn

2 of 4 noun

: a place that has been darned

darn

3 of 4 verb

: damn entry 1 sense 1

darn

ˈdärn

adjective or adverb

or darned

ˈdärn(d)

darn

4 of 4 noun

: damn entry 2 sense 2

not worth a darn