shadow

1 of 3

noun

shad·​ow ˈsha-(ˌ)dō How to pronounce shadow (audio)
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
12
shadows plural : dark sense 1a
13
: a source of gloom or unhappiness
14
: a state of ignominy or obscurity
shadowless
ˈsha-dō-ləs How to pronounce shadow (audio)
-də-ləs
adjective
shadowlike
ˈsha-dō-ˌlīk How to pronounce shadow (audio)
-də-ˌlīk
adjective

shadow

2 of 3

verb

shadowed; shadowing; shadows

transitive verb

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
4
archaic : shelter, protect
5
archaic : shade sense 5
6
obsolete : to shelter from the sun
7
obsolete : conceal

intransitive verb

1
: to pass gradually or by degrees
2
: to become overcast with or as if with shadows
shadower
ˈsha-dō-ər How to pronounce shadow (audio)
-də-wər
noun

shadow

3 of 3

adjective

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
Noun
His mother is devoted to his mentally disabled brother Claudio, and Rocco lives in the shadow of his charismatic older half-brother, Tommaso (Adriano Giannini). Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 5 Mar. 2024 For those in the areas experiencing totality, the moon’s shadow will completely cover the sun. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024 The controversy over Willis' romantic relationship with Wade has cast a shadow over the prosecution involving Trump and derailed the case for several weeks. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2024 Solar energy is coming out of the shadows and helping remind us of our positive connections with this star. Nicholas Wyman, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Despite fan fears, the show found new creative legs post-Gibbs, but Harmon still casts a long shadow. Sara Netzley, EW.com, 29 Feb. 2024 Photographed by Annie Leibovitz, Vogue, December 2003 THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS Wrapped in ocean-blue Balenciaga couture, Alice perched on the mantel, longing to escape into the shadow world, as her black kitty purred nearby. Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 28 Feb. 2024 The final shade matched Robbie's delicate pink eye shadow and lipstick, plus the perfect pink of her Schiaparelli sash. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 26 Feb. 2024 The constant barrage of self-doubt and the irrational fear of being exposed as a fraud can be suffocating, casting a shadow over your true abilities and potential. Mark Travers, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
Verb
Andrews had capably shadowed Ellis in the first game between the teams but was repeatedly beaten in the rematch. Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2024 Kertzer sheds light on the complex decisions facing the Vatican during one of history’s darkest periods and offers a critical examination of a figure who navigated the treacherous currents of fascism and genocide, providing insights into questions that have long shadowed Pius XII’s papacy. David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2024 Boateng went to great lengths to make employees feel part of a collaborative process, shadowing employees from all areas of the business to develop an intimate understanding of their needs. Caitlin Gunther, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Feb. 2024 The Moon’s south pole is permanently shadowed — great for ice, but less than ideal for navigating a lander. Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 15 Feb. 2024 Protesters showed off their military credentials, reversing the decline in prestige that had shadowed the IDF since the invasion of Lebanon in 1982. Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 7 Feb. 2024 From total eclipses shadowing the United States to meteor showers taking over the skies of the Southern Hemisphere, a bunch of astronomical events in 2024 are set to hold your gaze. Ria Gupta, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2024 On Wednesday night, Mexican officials rescued an Ecuadorian migrant who had been in the river for an extended time near an international bridge that shadows Shelby Park. Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 20 Jan. 2024 That’s the thinking at Bessemer Venture Partners; that shadowing a VC is the best way to learn to be a VC. Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2024
Adjective
The pre-shadow phase of the retrograde starts in motion the things that will affect us during the retrograde, so this is when the drama first manifests. Lisa Stardust, Glamour, 3 June 2022 The sooner, the better, as this transit has a pre-shadow period starting before the retrograde itself hits. Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Nov. 2021 The sooner, the better as this transit has a pre-shadow period starting before the retrograde itself hits. Meghan Ros, Glamour, 1 Sep. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shadow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English shadwe, from Old English sceaduw-, sceadu shade

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 4

Adjective

1906, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shadow was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near shadow

Cite this Entry

“Shadow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shadow. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

shadow

1 of 2 noun
shad·​ow ˈshad-ō How to pronounce shadow (audio)
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
9
: a form from which the substance has departed : remnant, vestige
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
shadowless adjective
shadowlike adjective

shadow

2 of 2 verb
1
: to cast a shadow on
2
: to follow especially secretly : trail
shadower noun

Medical Definition

shadow

1 of 2 noun
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

More from Merriam-Webster on shadow

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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