1
as in shadows
a time or place of little or no light
strange noises were coming from the wooded umbra beyond our campfire
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2
as in shadow
partial darkness due to the obstruction of light rays
during a solar eclipse observers located within the umbra experience a complete blocking of the sun by the moon
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Recent Examples of umbra
In a total lunar eclipse, the entire moon moves into the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, called the umbra, completely blocking it from the sun, according to NASA.
—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2025
However, the totality phase—when the moon is fully within Earth's umbra and appears reddish—typically lasts between 30 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes, depending on how close the moon is to the Earth at the time.
—Jess Thomson, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
Totality occurs at 2:26 a.m. EDT Friday when the entire moon is under the umbra.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2025
The eclipse reaches totality as the full moon moves into the darkest part of Earth's shadow, called the umbra.
—Joe Hernandez, NPR, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for umbra
Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2025
However, the totality phase—when the moon is fully within Earth's umbra and appears reddish—typically lasts between 30 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes, depending on how close the moon is to the Earth at the time.
—Jess Thomson, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
Totality occurs at 2:26 a.m. EDT Friday when the entire moon is under the umbra.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2025
The eclipse reaches totality as the full moon moves into the darkest part of Earth's shadow, called the umbra.
—Joe Hernandez, NPR, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for umbra
Recent Examples of Synonyms for umbra
Noun
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Francis’ shadow looms large, but ultimately, Pope Leo XIV is the successor of Peter, the first pope, not Francis, the most recent one.—
Aryn Baker,
Time,
9 May 2025
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The rift had also cast a shadow at the company’s shareholders’ meeting last month.—
Jonathan Burgos,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
Noun
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And although California dealt with brief rolling blackouts during an August 2020 heat wave, the power grid has been remarkably stable the last few years, thanks in part to an influx of large-scale, lithium-ion batteries that store solar energy for after dark.—
Sammy Roth,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2025
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Taking a dark, in depth look at Vecna’s origins with spectacular on stage visuals, this show is everything a Stranger Things fan is looking for.—
Alicia Lansom,
Refinery29,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The tint blends in nicely with my skin (a deeper shade is available, too) and adds a healthy, nongreasy glow.—
Melanie Fincher,
Southern Living,
10 May 2025
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Super Lustrous Glass Shine Balm Lipstick in the shade ‘Rum Raisin’ available on Amazon and Target.—
Gina Vaynshteyn,
StyleCaster,
9 May 2025
Noun
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That makes aurora possible in the hours of darkness in timezones throughout North America.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2025
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Those teams played in the Lions Tournament and tied when the game was called on account of darkness.—
John Maffei,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 May 2025
Noun
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That striking setting is first seen at dusk in a sequence whose fusion of poetry, tradition, kinship and omen sets the mood for what follows, as does the plangent lyricism of the (uncredited) score’s oud.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2025
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The post included photos of the actress stepping into a turquoise ocean and looking off into the sunset, as well as glimpses of Theroux, first walking down a garden pathway at dusk and then spending time in a hot tub.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
16 May 2025
Noun
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Flaunt this fun, floral style, or opt for their best-selling classic black.—
Meg Donohue,
Town & Country,
31 Jan. 2023
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Take your pick from black to mocha to crisp, winter white.—
Taylor Jean Stephan,
Peoplemag,
31 Jan. 2023
Noun
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Flying your favorite spacecraft is as simple as plopping down in the captain’s chair to engage in some hairy dogfights and clandestine patrols over strange worlds or the inky cosmic blackness as the gameplay shifts from a standard FPS to a third-person perspective.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
5 Mar. 2025
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Perry and crew experienced a few minutes of weightlessness and got to see Earth against the blackness of space.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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But not just because of its stunning cast: set in the twilight of the Gilded Age, when a murder strikes the estate of an eccentric and failing tycoon, that era’s biggest celebrities make an appearance as well.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
15 May 2025
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For some inside the Capitol, Kehoe’s involvement in the twilight of the legislative session poses a big test of the new governor’s political clout after spending years as a prominent Jefferson City businessman.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Umbra.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/umbra. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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