the dark
noun
1
: a state in which no light can be seen
She stumbled around in the dark until she finally found the light switch.
He's 12 years old and still afraid of the dark.
2
: a place where little or no light can be seen
The burglars hid in the dark between the two buildings.
He bought the kids special rings that glow in the dark.
3
: a state in which something is hidden or kept secret
Most of their deals were made in the dark.
4
: a state of not knowing about something
I'm in the dark about the agreement.
The public was kept in the dark about the meeting.
Examples of the dark in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jackson — only 26, and not yet an ordained minister — was dressed informally, in a loose jacket and a hip collarless pullover that distinguished him from the dark-suited, pulpit-ready King and King's conservatively attired associates.
—
John Beifuss, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 18 Feb. 2026
The voice might be drunk, or belligerent, or hostile, or afraid of the dark.
—Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
The prequel, which tells the story of a corporate arms race to develop immortality and the dark consequences that inevitably emerge, relies heavily on a cast that clearly buys into the premise from the very beginning.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 18 Feb. 2026
And through the dark, winding path of grief came a quaint, bright pink house nestled between a local home goods store and a vintage clothing shop on Parkville’s historic Main Street — creating a stark contrast from the deep sorrow Kincaid and her husband, Michael, felt inside.
—Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the dark
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John Beifuss, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 18 Feb. 2026
The voice might be drunk, or belligerent, or hostile, or afraid of the dark.
—Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
The prequel, which tells the story of a corporate arms race to develop immortality and the dark consequences that inevitably emerge, relies heavily on a cast that clearly buys into the premise from the very beginning.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 18 Feb. 2026
And through the dark, winding path of grief came a quaint, bright pink house nestled between a local home goods store and a vintage clothing shop on Parkville’s historic Main Street — creating a stark contrast from the deep sorrow Kincaid and her husband, Michael, felt inside.
—Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the dark
Cite this Entry
“The dark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20dark. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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