dark
- 01 A1 Beginner
adj.having little or no light, making it difficult to see.
adj.characterised by a relative or absolute deficiency of visible light.
Simple“The street was very dark because the power was out.”
In context“The hikers found themselves on a dark trail after the sun dipped below the ridge faster than they had anticipated.”
- 02 A1 Beginner
adj.a colour that is closer to black than white; not pale.
adj.possessing a low value in terms of colour theory; highly saturated or deep in hue.
Simple“She wore a dark blue suit to the job interview.”
In context“The interior designer recommended dark green velvet for the curtains to create a sense of richness in the library.”
- 03 B1 Intermediate
adj.unhappy, scary, or related to bad things.
adj.suggestive of gloom, hopelessness, or moral wickedness.
Simple“The movie was a dark comedy about a very serious subject.”
In context“The novel explores the dark side of human nature through its depiction of greed and betrayal in a small town.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
adj.hidden or kept secret from other people.
adj.characterised by secrecy or a lack of public knowledge.
Simple“They kept their plans dark until the very last minute.”
In context“The intelligence agency remained dark regarding the specifics of the operation, citing national security concerns.”
UsageOften used in the phrase 'to keep someone dark' or 'to stay dark'.
Synonyms - 05 A2 Elementary
n.a place or time where there is no light.
n.the state of being without light, or the period of nightfall.
Simple“The children are afraid of the dark.”
In context“After the campfire died down, they sat in the dark listening to the sounds of the forest.”
Usage dark matter · dark brown · dark sky
From Middle English derk, from Old English deorc, from Proto-West Germanic derk (“dark”), of uncertain origin, but possibly from Proto-Indo-European dʰerg- (“dim, dull”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰer- (“dull, dirty”).
From Middle English derk, derke, dirke, dyrke, from the adjective (see above), or possibly from an unrecorded Old English dierce, diercu (“dark, darkness”).
From Middle English derken, from Old English deorcian, from Proto-West Germanic *derkōn.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.