shad·ow
ˈsha-(ˌ)dō 
1
: the dark figure cast upon a surface by a body intercepting the rays from a source of light
2
: partial darkness or obscurity within a part of space from which rays from a source of light are cut off by an interposed opaque body
3
: a small degree or portion : trace
4
: an attenuated form or a vestigial remnant
5
a
: an inseparable companion or follower
b
: one (such as a spy or detective) who shadows someone
6
a
: an area near an object : vicinity
b
: pervasive and dominant influence
7
: a shaded or darker portion of a picture
8
: a reflected image
9
: shelter from danger or observation
10
a
: an imperfect and faint representation
b
: an imitation of something : copy
11
: phantom
12
13
: a source of gloom or unhappiness
14
: a state of ignominy or obscurity
shadowed; shadowing; shadows
1
: to cast a shadow upon : cloud
2
a
: to follow especially secretly : trail
b
: to accompany and observe especially in a professional setting
3
: to represent or indicate obscurely or faintly
—often used with forth or out
5
archaic
: shade sense 5
6
obsolete
: to shelter from the sun
7
obsolete
: conceal
1
: to pass gradually or by degrees
2
: to become overcast with or as if with shadows
1
: of, relating to, or resembling a shadow cabinet
shadow minister of defense
2
a
: having an indistinct pattern
shadow plaid
b
: having darker sections of design
shadow lace
Examples of shadow in a Sentence
Noun
The tree cast a long shadow across the lawn.
You can see your own shadow on a sunny day.
Part of the valley was in shadow.
He saw something moving in the shadows.
I sensed a shadow of disappointment in his expression.
Verb
Police shadowed the suspect for several days.
She spent the night shadowing other waiters at the restaurant.
Recent Examples on the Web
Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
That was another thing that we, in the writer’s room, were really compelled by in The Deal, which is, not only is Garrett living under the shadow of his dad, but also his dad is abusive, and Garrett doesn’t talk about it.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 13 May 2026
Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 13 May 2026
Climb employees can access programs for emerging leaders, mentorship connections, job shadowing opportunities, and financial wellness initiatives, and can even become certified credit union financial counselors.
—Sponsored Content, Denver Post, 13 May 2026
Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 31 Mar. 2026
How the Three Phases Work The full Mercury retrograde cycle is often described as a three-part sequence consisting of the pre-shadow phase, the retrograde period, and the post-shadow phase.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shadow
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Noun
In a world living in the shadow of the mushroom cloud, the vault was a grim reminder that after nearly two hundred years, the American experiment needed to be defended.
—Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
That was another thing that we, in the writer’s room, were really compelled by in The Deal, which is, not only is Garrett living under the shadow of his dad, but also his dad is abusive, and Garrett doesn’t talk about it.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 13 May 2026
Verb
Russia has launched several mysterious satellites into orbits shadowing the US government’s most advanced spy satellites.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 13 May 2026
Climb employees can access programs for emerging leaders, mentorship connections, job shadowing opportunities, and financial wellness initiatives, and can even become certified credit union financial counselors.
—Sponsored Content, Denver Post, 13 May 2026
Adjective
The ships comprised one sanctioned vessel, one shadow vessel, and two non-sanctioned, non-shadow vessels.
—Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 31 Mar. 2026
How the Three Phases Work The full Mercury retrograde cycle is often described as a three-part sequence consisting of the pre-shadow phase, the retrograde period, and the post-shadow phase.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shadow
Cite this Entry
“Shadow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shadow. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shadow
1 of 2 noun
shad·ow
ˈshad-ō
1
: shade within certain bounds
the valley was in shadow
2
: a reflected image (as in a mirror)
3
: shelter from danger or view
4
a
: an imperfect and faint representation
b
: an imitation of something
5
: the dark figure cast on a surface by a body that is between the surface and the light
my shadow stays with me
6
7
plural
: darkness caused by the setting of the sun
twilight shadows
8
: a shaded part of a picture
10
a
: an inseparable companion or follower
b
: a person who shadows as a spy or detective
11
: a very little bit : trace
not a shadow of a doubt
12
: a source of gloom or unhappiness
Medical Definition
shadow
1 of 2 noun
shad·ow
ˈshad-(ˌ)ō, -ə(-w)
1
a
: partial darkness or obscurity within a part of space from which rays from a source of light are cut off by an interposed opaque body
b
: a dark outline or image on an X-ray photograph where the X-rays have been blocked by a radiopaque mass (as a tumor)
2
: a colorless or slightly pigmented or stained body (as a degenerate cell or empty membrane) only faintly visible under the microscope
shadow
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to perform shadow-casting on
freeze-dried and shadowed myosin molecules
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